[USMA:52416] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica

[Henschel Mark]

My guess is that since US law (FPLA) requires dual labeling, manufacturers print the labels dual and then export the products as needed. That would explain the use of US fluid ounces in the UK and the rest of Europe. 40 years ago the EU asked (I think it was called the Common Market then) the US to export metric only packages to Europe. The US never got around to it, and finally the EU gave up. I did write several EU officials and ask them to hold their ground, but eventually they all caved and allowed dual labeling on products exported from the USA to Europe.
 
I think many arguements can be made that metric-only labeling is still a good thing even if the EU no longer asks the US to do it. Hopefully if Obama's cabinent can get on board the amendment can go to committee from the Laws and Metric Group of the Department of Commerce.
 
Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Vlietstra <vliets...@btinternet.com>
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2013 4:18 pm
Subject: [USMA:52415] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>

>

Many toiletries are marketed in the UK with volumes given in both millilitres and fluid ounces.  I suspect that the volumes given are US fluid ounces, not UK fluid ounces – there is a 4% difference between the two and by quoting 10 floz in the UK and giving 10.4 floz they are still within the law.  (It is illegal to label anything in the UK for purposes of trade in US gallons)

 

(BTW, there are 20 UK floz in a UK pint, but 16 US floz in a US pint – two nations divided by a common language? [Churchill])  

 

From: owner-u...@colostate.edu [mailto:owner-u...@colostate.edu] On Behalf Of derryod...@yahoo.com
> Sent: 28 February 2013 18:06
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Cc: usma@colostate.edu
> Subject: [USMA:52413] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica

 

I believe Proctor&Gamble is actually in favor of updating the FPLA to allow metric only as they have been using metric very often in the first labeling section of their products, which to me is a sign they have been transitioning all their product sizes, both US and international to metric based sizes. But I'm not sure about soda companies. Ill write to them. > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

 

---

From: Henschel Mark <mw-hensch...@neiu.edu>;
> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>;
> Cc: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>;
> Subject: [USMA:52412] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica
> Sent: Thu, Feb 28, 2013 5:08:23 PM

I doubt it would help to sue the Food Marketing Institute. It might work better to try to get Pepsi Cola or Coca Cola or Proctor and Gamble to ask them to drop their opposition to the FPLA update. A general lawsuit might have some effect, even if all that happens is we get an article in  the newspaper. There was one 30 years ago about enforcing the Metric Conversion Act, but I think the government promised to do better and it got dropped. >   > Mark > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Kilopascal <kilopas...@cox.net> > Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:08 pm > Subject: [USMA:52409] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica > To: mw-hensch...@neiu.edu, "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> > > > > > > > > > > > > > One thing that may be of a help is to research > > the law of 1866 and determine if if trumps the FPLA requirement that dual is > > required.  Under the 1866 law, metric only would be allowed. > > > >   > > > > Ever though of bring a lawsuit against the Food > > Marketing Institute for their insistence is fighting metric only? > > > >   > > > United States Code Title 15> > > > Chapter 6. Sec. 204.> > > > Metric system authorised. It shall be lawful throughout the United States of America to employ the weights and measures of the metric system; and no > > contract or dealing, or pleading in any court, shall be deemed invalid or liable to objection because the weights or measures expressed or referred to > > therein are weights or measures of the metric system. > > > > > > > > [USMA:52409] RE: (8) GoMetricAmerica > > Henschel Mark Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:11:14 -0800 > > > Ok. maybe we can think of a way to get some movement on the > > metric-only FPLA update. If we could just get the cabinent on board from the > > administration, it would help grease the wheels a lot. > > Any > > ideas? > >   > > Mark > > > >