2002-04-21
One thing that might have helped increase the sale of gasoline/petrol to
litre pricing would have been the switch from mechanical to electronic
pumps. Pumps made for the European market might not have been available
with a selection of units. Or the industry might have felt that if the
change was starting to occur it might be in everyone's best interest if all
pumps were made to display only litres. This would prevent a disaster of
having to stock parts for pumps that would be in gallons and others in
litres.
The same scenario will eventually happen with scales. As old analogue ones
eventually are no longer serviceable, and digital ones with kilograms only
is all that a vendor can buy, then it is just a matter of time before the
old scales disappear.
And speaking of scales, is there any action going on since the martyrs lost
their appeal? Are they still resisting? Are they in compliance? What
about those who were waiting for a decision before they would change? Has
anything changed, or is it still the status quo? No news can't be good
news, or is it?
John
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, 2002-04-21 15:23
Subject: [USMA:19555] common products
> >> Gasoline
>
> Litre pricing started some time in the 80s, I believe, but it only
> became widespread as we got to the 90s and then standard shortly
> after. Gallon prices can still be included, but it's almost never seen
> now.
Yes. It is difficult to prove a negative but I would raise your 'almost
never' to 'never'.
According to the DTI, voluntary litre pricing started in the early
1980's.
I am not sure whether dual pricing was mandatory or an artefact of the
legal options. The relevant 'Price Marking Orders' are 1988 and 1991
plus their amendments I believe. The last mandatory reference to gallon
equivalents (e.g. by showing a printed conversion table stuck on the
pump) appears to have been finally abolished in 1995.
The following explanatory note to an order (now superseded) is
interesting:
"Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 1853
The Price Marking (Amendment) Order 1994 - continued
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends subordinate legislation made under the Prices Act
1974.
On its coming into force it substitutes a new article 7 in the Price
Marking Order 1991 ("the 1991 Order") which required any indication of
the unit price of food given by reference to a metric unit of
measurement to be accompanied by a unit price given by reference to an
imperial unit. The new article 7, substituted by article 2(1) of this
Order, provides instead two new requirements that are alternatives to
each other.
Unit prices of food given by reference to the kilogram or to 100 grams
must be accompanied either by unit prices given by reference,
respectively, to the pound (lb) or the � lb or they must be accompanied
by the display, on the premises where the food is sold, of at least one
price conversion chart which will enable comparisons to be made between
specimen metric and imperial unit prices.
These alternatives will apply wherever food is sold loose from bulk
until 1st January 2000 but will cease to apply to food sold otherwise on
1st October 1995.
Article 2(2) of the Order amends, on 1st October 1995, provisions of the
1991 Order and the Price Marking (Pre-packed Milk in Vending Machines)
Order 1976. Their amendment is required by the amendments made by
Council Directive 89/617/EEC (OJ No. L357, 7.12.89, p.28) to Council
Directive 80/181/EEC (OJ No. L39, 15.2.80, p.40) ("the Directive") which
relates to the use of units of measurement for "economic, public health,
public safety or administrative purposes".
Those provisions of the 1991 Order which relate to the price marking of
petrol by reference to the gallon are amended or revoked on 1st October
1995 so as to discontinue the obligation, imposed by article 15 of the
1991 Order, to display gallon equivalent prices. Amendments are also
made to article 6 of the 1991 Order on 1st October 1995 by article 2(2)
of this Order to permit the use of the pound (lb) and the ounce in
connection with the unit pricing of goods (including food) sold loose
from bulk until 1st January 2000. Article 6 is further amended by
article 2(3) of this Order so as to permit the continued use of the pint
in connection with the price marking of milk in a returnable bottle
without a fixed time limit."
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19941853_en_3.htm
