Because of the possibility of amendments to the FPLA. I have been digging around matters relating to the FPLA. I found that the NIST made a comment about terminology during a debate about a previous amendment.
For some reason, the term 'SI metric' has been used in the legislation. Read on: [begin quote] NIST wrote that it is confusing and redundant: a) to use the term "SI metric" system because it implies that there are metric systems other than the International System of Units (SI), [end quote] NIST is stating that there is only one metric system and that is the SI. It goes on: [begin quote] and b) to use "SI metric" to modify a metric unit name.(12) (An example of the latter would be the reference to "SI metric kilograms" in � 500.8(d) of the new rules). NIST recommended using either "SI" or "metric." NCWM recommended that "you consider eliminating use of the terms 'SI metric' in association with the metric units ... because the terms stand by themselves as metric units."(13) [end quote] The justification for the use of the term 'SI metric' is as follows: [begin quote] 1992 amendments to section 4(a)(2) of the FPLA provide that the net quantity of contents shall be stated "using the most appropriate units of both the customary inch/pound system ... and, ... the SI metric system" (emphasis supplied). Thus, Congress has required by statute that both customary inch/pound and SI metric units are to be used for content disclosure. The Commission cannot issue regulations that contravene the statutory requirement. [end quote] So the term 'SI metric' was used because the term was in the 1992 amendment. The lesson is that sloppy wording in legislation is definitely to be avoided because it trickles down to other regulations and civil servants (rightly or wrongly) will not correct it. Then I read: [begin quote] "L" as the symbol for the SI metric liter [end quote] http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fpla/basis_jan1994.html [begin quote] SI metric liters [end quote] http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fpla/part500.htm This is not a true description of the status of a liter. I hope that the proposed update to the legislation will be better written. -- Terry Simpson Human Factors Consultant [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.connected-systems.com Phone: +44 7850 511794
