Gene
You asked
"Although permissible metric units are tabulated first, and imperial units,
second, there is no mention of which are to be considered primary (preferred)
after 2010 January 1, and which are to be only optional "supplementary
indications."
Is that question addressed in regulations not yet posted to the SLD?"
The question is actually addressed in the UK Weights & Measures Act 1985
Section 8. The CURRENT situation is that metric is primary in practically all
cases where metric is used for trade (see s.8(2) for exceptions) . Imperial MAY
be given as an OPTIONAL supplementary indication as defined in s.8(5A), but is
not required
Here is the full current text of Section 8
8
Units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade
(1) No person shall—
(a) use for trade any unit of measurement which is not included in Parts I
to V of Schedule 1 to this Act, or
(b) use for trade, or have in his possession for use for trade, any linear,
square, cubic or capacity measure which is not included in Schedule 3 to this
Act, or any weight which is not so included.
(2) No person shall use for trade—
(a) The ounce troy, except for the purposes of transactions in, or in
articles made from, gold, silver or other precious metals, including
transactions in gold or silver thread, lace or fringe, or
(b) the carat (metric), except for the purposes of transactions in precious
stones or pearls, or
(c) a capacity measure of 35, 70, 125, 150 or 175 millilitres, except for
the purposes of transactions in intoxicating liquor, or
(d) the pint except for—
(i) the purposes of the sale of draught beer or cider, or
(ii) the purposes of the sale of milk in returnable containers, or
(iii) ...
(e) ...
(f) ...
(3) Subsection (1)(a) above shall not apply to the prescribing of, or the
dispensing of a prescription for, drugs.
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) above shall be guilty of
an offence, and any measure or weight used, or in any person's possession for
use, in contravention of that subsection shall be liable to be forfeited.
[(5) The preceding provisions have effect subject to—
(a) subsection (5A) below, and
(b) sections 9 and 89 below.
(5A) Nothing in this section precludes the use for trade up to and
including 31st December 2009 of any supplementary indication; and for this
purpose any indication of quantity ('the imperial indication') is a
supplementary indication if—
(a) it is expressed in a unit of measurement other than a metric unit,
(b) it accompanies an indication of quantity expressed in a metric unit
('the metric indication') and is not itself authorised for use in the
circumstances as a primary indication of quantity, and
(c) the metric indication is the more prominent, the imperial indication
being, in particular, expressed in characters no larger than those of the
metric indication.]
(6) The Secretary of State may by order—
(a) amend Schedule 3 to this Act by adding to or removing from it any
linear, square, cubic or capacity measure, or any weight;
(b) add to, vary or remove from subsection (2) above any restriction on the
cases or circumstances in which, or the conditions subject to which, a unit of
measurement, measure or weight may be used for trade or possessed for use for
trade.
(7) An order under subsection (6) above may contain such transitional or
other supplemental or incidental provisions as appear to the Secretary of State
expedient.
(8) In this section 'unit of measurement' means a unit of measurement of
length, area, volume, capacity, mass or weight.
As you can see, the only measurements authorised for use for trade in the UK
are those listed in Schedule 1 Parts I - V. These measurements are practically
all metric (the exceptions are the pint & the troy ounce, which are reserved
for use in very limited situations (see Section 8 (2) above)
The definitions in Schedule 1 are
Part I
Measurement of Length
.. . .
Metric units
Kilometre = 1000 metres.
METRE is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time
interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second.
Decimetre = 1/10 metre.
Centimetre = 1/100 metre.
Millimetre = 1/1000 metre.
Part II
Measurement of Area
.. . .
Metric units
Hectare = 100 ares.
Decare = 10 ares.
Are = 100 square metres.
SQUARE METRE = a superficial area equal to that of a square each side of which
measures one metre.
Square decimetre = 1/100 square metre.
Square centimetre = 1/100 square decimetre.
Square millimetre = 1/100 square centimetre
Part III
Measurement of Volume
.. . .
Metric units
CUBIC METRE = a volume equal to that of a cube each edge of which measures one
metre.
Cubic decimetre = 1/1000 cubic metre.
Cubic centimetre = 1/1000 cubic decimetre.
Hectolitre = 100 litres.
LITRE = a cubic decimetre.
Decilitre = 1/10 litre.
Centilitre = 1/100 litre.
Millilitre = 1/1000 litre.
Part IV
Measurement of Capacity
.. . .
Imperial unit
PINT = 0.568 261 25 cubic decimetre.
.. . .
Metric units
Hectolitre = 100 litres.
LITRE = a cubic decimetre.
Decilitre = 1/10 litre.
Centilitre = 1/100 litre.
Millilitre = 1/1000 litre.
Part V
Measurement of Mass or Weight
.. . .
Imperial unit
.. . .
OUNCE TROY = 0.031 103 476 8 kilogram.
.. . .
Metric units
Tonne, metric tonne = 1000 kilograms.
KILOGRAM is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international
prototype of the kilogram.
Hectogram = 1/10 kilogram.
Gram = 1/1000 kilogram.
Carat (metric) = 1/5 gram.
Milligram = 1/1000 gram.
The current definitions of the prescribed supplementary indications are set out
in part VI of Schedule 1
Part VI
Definitions of Certain Units which may not be Used for Trade Except as
Supplementary Indications
Measurement of length
Mile
=
1760 yards.
Furlong
=
220 yards.
Chain
=
22 yards.
YARD
=
0.9144 metre.
Foot
=
1/3 yard.
Inch
=
1/36 yard.
Measurement of area
Square mile
=
640 acres.
Acre
=
4840 square yards.
Rood
=
1210 square yards.
Square yard
=
a superficial area equal to that of a square each side of which measures one
yard.
Square foot
=
1/9 square yard.
Square inch
=
1/144 square foot.
Measurement of volume
Cubic yard
=
a volume equal to that of a cube each edge of which measures one yard.
Cubic foot
=
1/27 cubic yard.
Cubic inch
=
1/1728 cubic foot.
Measurement of capacity
Bushel
=
8 gallons.
Peck
=
2 gallons.
GALLON
=
4.546 09 cubic decimetres.
Quart
=
1/4 gallon.
Gill
=
1/4 pint.
Fluid ounce
=
1/20 pint.
Fluid drachm
=
1/8 fluid ounce.
Minim
=
1/60 fluid drachm.
Measurement of mass or weight
Ton
=
2240 pounds.
Hundredweight
=
112 pounds.
Cental
=
100 pounds.
Quarter
=
28 pounds.
Stone
=
14 pounds.
POUND
=
0.453 592 37 kilogram.
Ounce
=
1/16 pound.
Dram
=
1/16 ounce.
Grain
=
1/7000 pound.
Pennyweight
=
24 grains.
Ounce apothecaries
=
480 grains.
Drachm
=
1/8 ounce apothecaries.
Scruple
=
1/3 drachm.
Metric ton
=
1000 kilograms.
Quintal
=
100 kilograms.
On 1/1/2010, the definition of "Supplementary Indication" in s.8(5A) will cease
to exist. This will not affect the definition of the units in Schedule 1 Parts
I - V as the primary measurements in use for trade (in addition to the listed
metric measurements, the pint & troy ounce will remain legal for their
specialised functions)
Now, all the above is pretty black & white. On 1/1/10, metric remains primary
for practically all trade measurement. Every imperial measurement (except the
pint & troy ounce) loses its status as an authorised supplementary indication
to the primary metric indication.
Here's where we get into speculation though.
In my opinion, there is nothing to prevent marking of an "unauthorised
supplementary indication". Assuming that the package is made up on appropriate
metric equipment and marked with a metric measurement, I cannot find a specific
section stating that it is an offence to give additional information.
When taken in conjunction with the facts that
1) You can currently buy goods in the UK marked in metric & US liquid measure
(currently a non-authorised supplementary indication)
and
2) The EU has stated that supplementary indications will be permitted
indefinitely
I see no reason why dual-marked packages will not be allowed in the UK after
1/1/10
IMO, there is no need to clarify this by changing the law, but (for the
purposes of clarity), the UK government could decide to make new legislation
before 1/1/10 that retains an official status for Imperial. I will stress that
I am unaware of any plans to make such legislation.
--- On Thu, 23/4/09, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:44814] Re: Metric-Only Laws
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, 23 April, 2009, 3:19 AM
Ken,
"Packaged Goods" 2006 from the SLD is getting close to that which I'm looking
for.
Although permissible metric units are tabulated first, and imperial units,
second, there is no mention of which are to be considered primary (preferred)
after 2010 January 1, and which are to be only optional "supplementary
indications."
Is that question addressed in regulations not yet posted to the SLD?
Gene.
---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:06:53 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Ken Cooper <[email protected]>
>Subject: [USMA:44809] Re: Metric-Only Laws
>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
>...
http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/
>(Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006 see SLD
> - search "packaged goods"
> ...
>
