I honestly don't think FPLA applies. Medical supply and equipment manufacturers label how they please. Disposeables such as bandage, gauze, or needles are USC exclusively, with metric mostly absent. Syringes - the minims are gone, but larger sizes of 15 mL and above are also fl oz dual-labeled. IV tubing is again USC with cm as an afterthought, if at all. IV fluids in liters. Surgical tools in any way reminiscent of nonmedical tools are sized in inches. Others in mm.
Over the past few years in medicine I got the impression that standards are applied in a piecemeal fashion, and every niche has its own set of units. In the US, they are based on 19th century physiology (mm Hg or cm H2O for pressures, concentrations in g/dL, etc) or on the principle of "who got there first." If Americans invented it or dominated, USC units invariably make their way in. Overall, medicine is metric only where it absolutely must. Otherwise it falls back to the medieval units. Remek ----- Reply message ----- From: "Team Metric Info" <i...@metricrules.org> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> Subject: [USMA:52602] FPLA question Date: Fri, Apr 5, 2013 14:49 Does anyone know how drug and medical devices became exempt from FPLA- they are metric-only correct? Did the FDA just give them a waiver or did someone seek congressional approval/ amendment?Basic Requirements: The FPLA requires each package of household "consumer commodities" that is included in the coverage of the FPLA to bear a label on which there is:a statement identifying the commodity, e.g., detergent, sponges, etc.;the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor;and the net quantity of contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count (measurement must be in both metric and inch/pound units).Purpose of the Act: The FPLA is designed to facilitate value comparisons and to prevent unfair or deceptive packaging and labeling of many household "consumer commodities."FDA: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers the FPLA with respect to foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. The FTC administers the FPLA with respect to other "consumer commodities" that are consumed or expended in the household.
