Note that the Federal Register attached as a pdf is a notice of proposed rule
making by the FTC to amend their rules in support of FPLA. Some of us have
commented previously. I urge those commenters to particularly review sections
IV and V of the document dealing with recommendations they have accepted and
rejected.
Some changes relevant from a metrology viewpoint:
*They will drop their metric conversion chart and incorporate by reference a
more comprehensive one from NIST (HB130).
* They will accept exponents to denote square and cubic in lieu of sq and cu,
although those forms are still allowed too.
*They will NOT act on metric-only. They believe they lack the authority. I
think they do lack the authority but will be cautious as I got in trouble for
saying it (too political). I know many hoped that they would ignore or
circumvent Congress somehow.
*They will NOT forbid periods and plurals in Customary symbols; they remain
optional.
*They will NOT require largest common unit to facilitate comparison between
package sizes but will continue to allow it.
They seem to only want comments on things they are willing to change, not on
the changes they rejected. Those are apparently a lost cause for this round.
I am disappointed by the issues they won't tackle and probably won't bother to
comment again, but some of you may feel differently. Comments are due by March
30, so not much time. NOTE: This was published Feb 2, but it didn't seem to
get any "press." Read details on submitting comments in the publication.
Please read the document and form your own opinion. I'm a little underwhelmed
and my review may reflect that.
________________________________
From: David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>
Cc: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 6:40 PM
Subject: [USMA:54646] Re: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
Fritz Graham. Thanks for continuing to work on this very important issue and
thanks for the link. Please keep me updated because I am very eager to see the
metric-only option become available in the United States. David Pearl
www.MetricPioneer.com 503-428-4917
----- Message from "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
---------
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:06:09 +0000
From: "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
Subject: RE: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
To: David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
David,
>
>Still working on your issue. There has not been anything in Congress for at
>least the last two congresses that addresses this issue.
>The Department of Commerce has a call out for public comment on this issue –
>see link below.
>
>https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/federal_register_notices/2015/01/150122fairpackingfrn.pdf
>
>
>Fritz Graham
>Senator Ron Wyden
>707 13th St., SE Suite 285
>Salem, Oregon 97301
>503-589-4555 fax: 503-589-4749
>fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov
>
>From: David Pearl [mailto:cont...@metricpioneer.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:39 PM
>To: Graham, Fritz (Wyden)
>Subject: Re: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
>
>I called today for an update on your progress. Please let me know how this
>effort is going. Thanks.
>
>----- Message from David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com> ---------
> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 13:18:13 -0800
> From: David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
>Subject: Re: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
> To: "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
>No. That is not it. Have a look here
>http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/metric_062310.cfm so you can see what I am talking
>about. Thanks. David Pearl 503-428-4917 www.MetricPioneer.com
>>
>>----- Message from "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
>>---------
>> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:12:19 +0000
>> From: "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
>>Subject: RE: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
>> To: David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com>
>>David,
>>>
>>>I am looking for the bill this might be under. All bills from the previous
>>>congress terminated on December 31, so new bills are being introduced.
>>>
>>>The only bill I found that might be related in the current session is S 287,
>>>the Safe Food Act of 2015. I have attached a copy of the bill. Is this hthe
>>>bill you are concerned about?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Fritz Graham
>>>Senator Ron Wyden
>>>707 13th St., SE Suite 285
>>>Salem, Oregon 97301
>>>503-589-4555 fax: 503-589-4749
>>>fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov
>>>
>>>From: David Pearl [mailto:cont...@metricpioneer.com]
>>>Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2015 9:48 AM
>>>To: Graham, Fritz (Wyden)
>>>Subject: Wyden Town Hall 2015 Salem FPLA Amendment
>>>
>>>Mr. Fritz Graham. Thank you so much for paying attention to my question to
>>>Senator Ron Wyden on 4 January 2015 CE at the Town Hall Meeting in Salem
>>>concerning the FPLA Amendment that would allow (but not require) metric-only
>>>labeling. I have been patiently waiting for word on progress on this. Please
>>>keep me updated on this important issue for the nation. David Pearl
>>>503-428-4917 www.MetricPioneer.com
>>
>>
>>
>>----- End message from "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)"
>><fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov> -----
>>
>
>
>
>----- End message from David Pearl <cont...@metricpioneer.com> -----
----- End message from "Graham, Fritz (Wyden)" <fritz_gra...@wyden.senate.gov>
-----
