I'm not sure how much of the products that one sees on American shelves also appears on foreign shelves without a change in the label or contents. If US manufacturers drop metric declarations then those products that do sell overseas would be dropped by the foreign importer as packages without metric are illegal in most countries.
The only solution would be for American companies to produce products with different labels for different countries to meet the metric requirements. This would be costly. The result might be for American companies to package overseas eliminating tens of thousands of American jobs. If there is pressure in some circles to eliminate metric on the packages of goods sold in American stores those applying the pressure may not be aware or don't care of the potential outcome. I doubt that many American companies will drop the English units even when permitted to do so unless it can be proved to them that it won't frighten off the American consumer. I also believe that producers want to keep as much clutter on the labels as possible as it is the best way to confuse the consumer. A confused consumer is more likely to binge buy and keep the profits rolling in. Making the numbers easy is not in their interest, thus the reason for wanting to keep metric away. Jerry ________________________________ From: Victor Jockin <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 3:35:13 PM Subject: [USMA:43014] Re: More companies primed to pounce on metric-only labeling This whole area scares me because I could so easily see it go either way. Frankly, I think it is at least as likely that metric units will eventually be dropped from US packaging as it is that metric-only labels will be allowed (together with mixed unit labels). Without pointing fingers at USMA or anyone in particular, the reason, of course, is the complete lack of a funded advocacy presence in Washington by pro-metric parties, combined with well-funded organizations (food retailers, etc.) who would just as soon see the metric units dropped. Combine that with the fact that public momentum for metrication in the US is at its lowest level in 50 years, and we have a problem. From: [email protected] Sent: 02/15/2009 12:07 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:43013] More companies primed to pounce on metric-only labeling I was pleasantly surprised to see our commercial containers of Coffee Mate (from Nestle) here at work labeled as a rational 1.5 L instead of some weird metric size. Of course, the floozies were there (oddball amount) and in first position, but I was heartened to see another major company (besides Proctor and Gamble) promoting rational metric sizes on their products (especially a product that is hidden from the ordinary consumer because they are destined for the commercial food or cleaning market). This just seems like another sign that some major players are ready to drop US Customary labeling altogether as soon as the FPLA gets amended. And once the "big boys" go there, the smaller players and the private labels will quickly follow suit. Can't wait to see that happen. Just hope we get a Secretary of Commerce who favors metrication and that the crush of other legislation doesn't crowed out passage of the amendment this year. (Gregg Judd dropping out is clearly a blessing on many counts.) -- Ezra
