Units of Measure Directive

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The Units of Measure Directive, sometimes referred to as the Metric Directive and more formally known as "Council Directive 80/181/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71/354/EEC" is a European Union directive. It specifies that for legal purposes within the European Union quantities must be expressed in S.I. Units, sometimes known informally as the metric system. The directive came into force in 1979, providing for implementation in national legislation by 1981, and has since been amended several times.

The transition period allowing dual labeling was to have ended at the end of 2009, but following protests in the United Kingdom and concerns, particularly on the part of industry, in the United States and Europe, a further amendment, which would, inter alia extend dual labelling in metric and UK or U.S. customary units, has been proposed by the European Commission and has already been approved by the European Parliament.

Contents 1 Scope 2 History 2.1 Extension of supplementary indications to 2009 2.2 Protests in the United Kingdom 2.3 Reactions in the United States 2.4 Consultations in 2007 2.5 Proposal by the European Commission 2.6 Status of amendment proposal 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Scope

The provisions of the directive apply to measuring instruments (for instance scales), measurements, and quantities used for economic, public health, public safety, or administrative purposes. It expressly excludes some uses, for instance in the field rails, sea and air traffic. There are also some derogations for some member states, notably the United Kingdom and Ireland.

[edit] History

The directive was passed 20 December 1979. It provided that member states must pass appropriate legislation to introduce S.I. units for all purposes within the scope of the directive, by 31 July 1981 at the latest. Though quantities had to be given predominantly in S.I. units, the directive permitted the use of supplementary indications (for instance dual labelling including non-metric quantities in addition to the metric quantities) for a transition period lasting until 31 December 1989 (with the possibility of a further extension).^[1]

[edit] Extension of supplementary indications to 2009

In November 1989, the transition period permitting supplementary indications was extended to 31 December 1999.^[2] In 1999 (or January 2000), the transition period permitting supplementary indications was extended to 31 December 2009.^[3]

[edit] Protests in the United Kingdom

The directive, or more precisely the British legislation amended to implement the directive,^[4] was the subject of considerable controversy in the United Kingdom. In particular, some food sellers continued to sell vegetable with prices quoted in pounds and using non-metric scales. Some were convicted of offences under weights and measures legislation and became known as the Metric Martyrs.

[edit] Reactions in the United States

In spite of the extension till 2009, the provisions of this directive, in particular the provisions prohibiting dual labelling were a cause of serious concern in the United States. In 2005 there were informal consultations between the USA and the EU.^[5] In 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce made U.S. companies aware of potential problems and lobbied for a further extension of dual labelling, which would be more consistent with United States legislation, in particular the Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.^[6][7][8][9] In this context, the directive was characterized by one person as "an example of a power mad megalomaniac bureaucracy run amok.^[10]

[edit] Consultations in 2007

In the light of the impending termination of permission for supplementary non-SI units in 2009 and in view of the extension of the SI system at an international level (especially in the United States), the European Commission decided in 2007 to consider amendments to the directive and initiated consultations with interested parties, including the United States government.^[11] The United States raised serious concerns concerning mutual trade and incompatibility with US legislation, such as the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.^[12] There was also concern as to how the directive would be interpreted.^[13][14] Other organizations also voiced criticisms.^[15] Many organization, such as the AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association) advocated a continuation of "dual labelling".^[16] Eurosceptic groups in the UK, such as the United Kingdom Independence Party also expressed concern.^[17] Other US trade organizations pointed to incompatibilities with US legislation^[18] and noted that the directive applies not just to labelling but also to advertising, instruction manuals, etc.^[19] The report on the consultations lists other problems in the United States, such as the fact that health products regulated by the FDA must use non-SI- units.

Many different groups contributed to the consultations on amendments to the directive carried out in 2007. Without exception the European and American industry federations and individual firms who responded were in favour of retaining supplementary indications for another ten years or indefinitely. They pointed to conflicting federal law in the United States that would have necessitated relabeling. All member states who responded were also in favour of extending supplementary indications.^[20]

[edit] Proposal by the European Commission

In September 2007, the European Commission published its conclusions, which included proposals to allow indefinitely the display of supplementary indicators (e.g. non metric quantities) alongside metric quantities and to allow the indefinite use of imperial units in the UK and Ireland for draught beer, milk bottles and road signs. The reasons given for the amendments included the potential cost to European and American industry and the sensitivity of the issue in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Commission's proposal for amending the Directive also included a number of minor points, such as including the katal in the list of permissible S.I. units.^{[21] [22] [23]}

The proposal met with measured approval by advocacy groups that had opposed the legislation.^[24][25] The Commission proposal was also welcomed, even before it was officially published, by metrication advocates in the United States, who hoped that it would help promote the cause of metrication in the United States.^[26]

[edit] Status of amendment proposal

The proposal was adopted by the European Commission 10 September 2007, approved by the European Parliament 29 November 2007, and by the EESC 12 December 2007.^[27]

As of May 2008 the amendment has not yet been approved by the Council and promulgated.

[edit] See also

• Thoburn v Sunderland City Council
• Metrication in the United Kingdom
• Metrication in the United States

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Text of the directive
• Text of the directive, as amended and corrected up to 12 December 2000