James Wentworth wrote: >One had the metric declaration printed twice as large as >the FFU, while the other had a metric declaration *four* >times as large as the FFU print.
The FPLA regulates minimum character height according to 'display panel area'. UK (and I presume all EU) laws regulate it by nominal quantity. The FPLA character height rules are another example of where the lawyers have included both units and increased obscurity without any real benefit. Hopefully they will use only metric units next time. Note also that the UK version only goes up to 6 mm whereas the US version goes up to 12.7 mm. I also think that it is much harder to establish compliance with the US regulation because the inspectors and lawyers have to get involved with definitions of 'display panel'. Using nominal quantity is much simpler because that is already declared as part of the characters that are being measured. It is not really a metrication issue, but perhaps the industry would welcome a simplification of the FPLA. Quote from US FPLA: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fpla/part500.htm [begin quote] (b) With area of principal display panel defined as above, the type size in relationship to area of that panel shall comply with the following specifications: (1) Not less than 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) in height on packages the principal display panel of which has an area of 5 square inches or (32.2 cm2) less. (2) Not less than 1/8 inch (3.1 mm) in height on packages the principal display panel of which has an area of more than 5 (32.2 cm2) but not more than 25 square inches (161 cm2). (3) Not less than 3/16 inch (4.7 mm) in height on packages the principal display panel of which has an area of more than 25 (161 cm2) but not more than 100 square inches (6.45 dm2). (4) Not less than 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) in height on packages the principal display panel of which has an area of more than 100 square inches (6.45 dm2), except not less than 1/2 (12.7 mm) inch in height if the area is more than 400 square inches (25.8 dm2). [end quote] Equivalent details from UK law: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/sr/sr1999/19990084.htm#sch1 Size, Mass 2 mm Not exceeding 50 g 3 mm Exceeding 50 g but not exceeding 200 g 4 mm Exceeding 200 g but not exceeding 1 kg 6 mm Exceeding 1 kg Size, Capacity 2 mm Not exceeding 5 cl 3 mm Exceeding 5 cl but not exceeding 20 cl 4 mm Exceeding 20 cl but not exceeding 1 L 6 mm Exceeding 1 L Size, Volume 3 mm Not exceeding 200 cm3 4 mm Exceeding 200 cm3 but not exceeding 1000 cm3 6 mm Exceeding 1000 cm3 2 mm Not exceeding 5 cl 3 mm Exceeding 5 cl but not exceeding 20 cl 4 mm Exceeding 20 cl but not exceeding 1 L 6 mm Exceeding 1 L Size, Longest dimension of container 2 mm Not exceeding 12 cm 3 mm Exceeding 12 cm but not exceeding 30 cm 4 mm Exceeding 30 cm but not exceeding 45 cm 6 mm Exceeding 45 cm
