[USMA:34868] FMI and 2009 EU deadline

[Ezra Steinberg]

Hmmmm, in thinking about Ken Butcher's remarks about what's happening with the FPLA amendment and FMI's opposition to it, it certainly looks more and more like those who claim that the US is just stalling when it comes to providing metric-only labelling to the EU are right. If the US were serious about taking the time provided by the extension to prepare for metric-only labelling, there would be more than enough support to pass an amendment to the FPLA to allow for voluntary metric-only labelling.   If the EU really means to stand firm this time and not extend the deadline (again!) when it arrives in 2009, then this could be leverage to convince folks who are neutral (as most apparently are according to Ken) to switch to active support of the amendment so that they can stock a single inventory of goods with metric-only labelling. It might also provide ammunition to try and turn the FMI around on this issue.   Of course, if folks like the FMI are betting that the EU will cave in yet again, well, they won't find the argument about the looming deadline very persuasive.   Perhaps there are folks involved with the USMA who have contacts they can use to sound out whether the Europeans are serious about holding the line this time? And that this information could be communicated appropriately to sway stakeholders to support the amendment?   Ezra