The language of a date for metric-only labeling to kick in was simply removed in the last go-round. :-( Ezra
----- Original Message ----- From: "John M. Steele" <[email protected]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 3:57:29 PM Subject: [USMA:52916] Re: Guidance from <export.gov> The 2nd point is out of date. However, I am a little confused on whether the EU has permanently abandoned this or "kicked the can" to 2020. From: "mechtly, eugene a" <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Cc: "mechtly, eugene a" <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, June 11, 2013 3:07:22 PM Subject: [USMA:52914] Guidance from <export.gov> Guidance on preference for metric units is given at <export.gov> to exporters: "... United States' trading partners require at least dual labeling (U.S. units and metric units), if not metric-only measurement units on product labels..." "... the European Union (EU) currently allows dual labeling ... but on January 1, 2010 all products sold in the EU will require metric-only labeling." ( Will the new Free Trade Agreement with the EU enforce this requirement?) The Trade Information Center at <export.gov> adds the guidance: "... many kinds of equipment must be engineered in the metric-system for integration with other pieces of equipment or for compliance with the standards of a given country ..." "... U.S. firms that compete successfully in the global market realize that conversion to metric measurements is an important detail in selling to overseas customers ..." "... Even with consumer products, packaging and describing contents in metric measurements (e.g. kilograms, liters) can be important ..." Amending the FPLA to *permit* metric-only labeling *domestically* is important to harmonize product labels with labels on exports to the EU, and to other countries in the World Trade Organization, when metric-only labeling is enforced! Eugene Mechtly
