There were actually two EU directives on metrication, one in the 1970's which was superceded by another in 1980. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_Measure_Directive for a description. (I wrote the piece about the earlier directive).
_____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ken Cooper Sent: 22 April 2009 01:29 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:44797] Re: Metric-Only Laws Gene You're asking a lot! "1. In each of the Member States of the EU, what law(s) were enacted in response to the EU Metric Directive?" Here's the UK situation. The following (current) legislation refers to or was amended in response to the provisions of 80/181/EEC or the previous directive 71/354/EEC The Weights & Measures Act 1985 Cubic Measures (Ballast and Agricultural Materials) Regulations 1978 Weighing Equipment (Beltweighers) Regulations 1983 Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel delivered from Road Tankers) Regulations 1983 Measuring Equipment (Intoxicating Liquor) Regulations 1983 Units of Measurement Regulations 1986 Weighing Equipment (Filling and Discontinuous Totalising Automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 1986 Measuring Equipment (Measures of Length) Regulations 1986 Capacity Serving Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Regulations 1988 Measuring |Equipment (EEC Requirements) (Gas Volume Meters) Regulations 1988 Weights & Measures (Miscellaneous Foods) Order 1989 Units of Measurements Regulations 1994 Measuring Equipment (Capacity Measures & Testing Equipment) Regulations 1995 Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel & Lubricants) Regulations 1995 Units of Measurement Regulations 1995 Weighing Equipment (Automatic Gravimetric Filling Instruments) Regulations 2000 Weighing Equipment (Non-Automatic Weighing Machines) Regulations 2000 Weights & Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006 Other legislation has been amended in response to other directives (Unit pricing, abolition of most prescribed quantities etc) "2. In each of the Member States of the EU, what amendments, if any, were enacted to permit "supplementary indications" beyond 2010 January 1?" None as yet (as far as I am aware) in any EU state. There is definitely no current UK legislation that "permits" supplementary indications after 1/1/2010. Conversely, there is no actual current UK legislation which specifically forbids supplementary indications after 1/1/2010. On 1/1/2010, Imperial loses its status as a "supplementary indication".. IMO, that doesn't mean that it is forbidden from appearing (as long as the metric measure is primary) "3. What *actual documents* answer these questions? (no speculations accepted!)" An up-to-date copy of O'Keefe's "The Law of Weights & Measures" will answer question 1. With regard to your second question, the EU's consultations, proposals & amendments may be viewed at the following locations Working Document http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/prepack/unitmeas/commission_services_work_doc .pdf. Public Consultation http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/prepack/unitmeas/public_consultat_report_26ju n07.pdf Final Communication re Amendments http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0785:FIN:EN:H TML "4. What is the probability that the particular law(s) in each Member State will be enforced after 2010 January 1?" In the UK, TSO's will continue to enforce all Trading Standards legislation in an even-handed & proportional manner. "5. What is the probability that exports from the US will be rejected after 2010 Jan 1 by any (each) of the Member States?" In the UK, the situation will be exactly as it is today. It will be illegal to sell imported packaged goods marked in "imperial-only" (or in "USC-only"). Non-metric measurement must not be given greater prominence than metric on dual-marked packages. I imagine that similar controls will be enforced in other EU states. --- On Tue, 21/4/09, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:44792] Metric-Only Laws To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, 21 April, 2009, 2:21 PM 1. In each of the Member States of the EU, what law(s) were enacted in response to the EU Metric Directive? 2. In each of the Member States of the EU, what amendments, if any, were enacted to permit "supplementary indications" beyond 2010 January 1? 3. What *actual documents* answer these questions? (no speculations accepted!) 4. What is the probability that the particular law(s) in each Member State will be enforced after 2010 January 1? 5. What is the probability that exports from the US will be rejected after 2010 Jan 1 by any (each) of the Member States? Answers to questions 4 and 5 are, of course, speculations. Which of you with multiple language skills can answer these questions? Eugene (Gene) Mechtly.
