The NIST has drafted legislation to provide for metric only product
labeling. If Congress would pass it and the President sign it, there would be
a great move to go all metric.
If ALL people would contact their Congressional representatives, then
perhaps something would happen. No single organization can do it alone.
However, most companies want to go metric and many already have gone metric
like the auto industry has.
With the current stimulus bill recently passed and it's called a jobs bill,
it would be appropriate to have all road signs changed to metric very quickly.
Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: Victor Jockin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 3:35 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
