Yes, there are exceptions for export. >From the USMA laws page, here are all the sizes allowed for wine: 4.72 Metric standards of fill. (a) Authorized standards of fill. The standards of fill for wine are the following: 3 liters, 1.5 liters, 1 liter, 750 milliliters, 500 milliliters, 375 milliliters, 187 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters. (b) Sizes larger than 3 liters. Wine may be bottled or packed in containers of 4 liters or larger if the containers are filled and labeled in quantities of even liters (4 liters, 5 liters, 6 liters, etc.). (c) Tolerances. The tolerances in fill are the same as are allowed by §4.37 in respect to statement of net contents on labels. Supplemental Customary marking of wines is allowed as follows (another section defines US gallon, 231 cubic inches, 128 fl oz): Statement of U.S. equivalent net contents. When net contents of wine are stated in metric measure, the equivalent volume in U.S. measure may also be shown. If shown, the U.S. equivalent volume will be shown as follows: (1) For the metric standards of fill: 3 liters (101 fl. oz.); 1.5 liters (50.7 fl. oz.); 1 liter (33.8 fl. oz.); 750 ml (25.4 fl. oz.); 500 ml (16.9 fl. oz.); 375 ml (12.7 fl. oz.); 187 ml (6.3 fl. oz.); 100 ml (3.4 fl. oz.); and 50 ml (1.7 fl. oz.). (2) Equivalent volumes of less than 100 fluid ounces will be stated in fluid ounces only, accurate to the nearest one-tenth of a fluid ounce; for example, 700 ml (23.7 fl. oz.). (3) Equivalent volumes of 100 fluid ounces or more will be stated in fluid ounces only, accurate to the nearest whole fluid ounce; for example, 6 liters (203 fl. oz.). Distilled spirits are a little different: The standards of fill for distilled spirits are the following: (1) For containers other than cans described in paragraph (a)(2), of this section — 1.75 liters, 1.00 liter, 750 milliliters, 500 milliliters (Authorized for bottling until June 30, 1989), 375 milliliters, 200 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters. (2) For metal containers which have the general shape and design of a can, which have a closure which is an integral part of the container, and which cannot be readily reclosed after opening — 355 milliliters, 200 milliliters, 100 milliliters, 50 milliliters. Supplemental Customary does not seem to be allowed. The pre-metric fills, prior to 1980 in Customary units were: Standards of fill (distilled spirits bottled before January 1, 1980). This section, no longer in effect, listed the standard non-metric sizes: 1 gallon, 1/2 gallon, 1 quart, 4/5 quart, 1 pint, 4/5 pint, 1/2 pint, 1/8 pint, 1/10 pint, and 1/16 pint (brandy only). Malt beverages must be marked in Customary, optional supplemental metric marking is allowed, and there are no specified sizes.
--- On Sat, 3/7/09, Ken Cooper <[email protected]> wrote: From: Ken Cooper <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:43459] RE: Mistaken blather from a correspondent on another list To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009, 5:03 PM --- On Sat, 3/7/09, John M. Steele <[email protected]> wrote: However, on spirits, the US also requires 750 mL and forbids 700 mL. The EU appears to require 700 mL and forbids 750 mL. I am not sure whether Customary is even allowed as supplemental, In the UK (as in the rest of Europe) the standard spirit bottle is 700ml. It would be legal to add a supplementary imperial indication to the primary metric, but (as far as I am aware, no-one does it. Scottish bottling plants pack whisky in 750ml sizes for export to the US. It would be illegal to sell these bottles in the UK - they are all exported. In the same way, US whiskeys are imported into the UK in 700ml bottles. I assume they are packed in the states?
