Thanks, Martin, for reminding us that a review of the postponement of the requirement for SI-only labeling within the EU is scheduled before the end of 2019.
My hope is that demands of more general World Trade (demands by members of the WTO, now including China), will *require* metric-only labeling (if not metric-only engineering designs) of all products before 2020! Certainly, Chinese industries can manufacture products by lathes and milling machines equipped with millimeter lead screws, to specifications derived from other-than millimeter original designs, but such products often do not fit well. I refer specifically to brass garden hose fittings. Eugene Mechtly ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of Martin Vlietstra [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 11:50 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:52919] Re: Guidance from <export.gov> The “sunset” part relating to the use of supplementary units was removed effective 1 January 2010, but must be reviewed before the end of 2019. The directive does however state that the metric unit “shall predominate”. The exact text can be found at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1980L0181:20090527:EN:PDF. The Wikipedia article, which references all the old versions is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_units_of_measurement_directives. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John M. Steele Sent: 11 June 2013 23:57 To: U.S. Metric Association 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 The 2nd point is out of date.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]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: "mechtly, eugene a" <[email protected]<mailto:[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
