[USMA:40707] current New York state law supports metrication

[Paul Trusten]

As we await a decision from the New York State Department of Agriculture 
and Markets, Division of Bureau of Weights and Measures, on the adoption 
of the UPLR metric-only labeling option,  we might want to scratch our 
heads about the delay.  Article 16, Section 176 of the New York 
Agriculture and Markets laws is forcefully pro-metric (see below). Once 
again, only two states, New York and Alabama, have not yet adopted the 
measure, which would allow product labeling not regulated by the federal 
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act  (FPLA) to be optionally labeled in 
metric units only.  All other U.S. states and territories have adopted 
the change.


   § 176. Declaration of policy and purpose. The legislature hereby finds
 and  declares that voluntary and orderly conversion to the metric system
 of weights and measures is of vital importance to  the  economy  of  the
 state.  It  is  hereby declared to be the public policy of this state to
 encourage the gradual implementation of the metric system throughout the
 state's  government,  industry,  commerce,   business,   education   and
 agriculture. This article is enacted in the exercise of the public power
 in  order to encourage such implementation and to provide a revised code
 of weights and measures which will be  responsive  to  the  present  and
 future  needs of commerce, industry and consumers. The legislature finds
 and declares that the coordination and administration  of  this  unitary
 regulatory  system  governing  weights and measures throughout the state
 should be, and is hereby, vested in the commissioner of agriculture  and
 markets  and that enforcement of this article by the counties and cities
 of the state shall be under his supervision.


--
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc.
www.metric.org
3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122
Midland TX 79707-2872 US
+1(432)528-7724
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]