The original message below was addressed only to Michelle Oneil and to Ann Ngo of the ITA; copies to USMA and to NIST. The mail to Michelle bounced. The mail to Ann was, apparently, received at the ITA. What is Michelle's correct e-mail address? Is michelle_on...@ita.doc.gov blocked?
Gene Mechtly ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 13:12:28 -0500 (CDT) >From: <mech...@illinois.edu> >Subject: [USMA:45091] Directive 2009/3/EC >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> >Cc: kenneth.butc...@nist.gov, elizabeth.gen...@nist.gov, usma@colostate.edu > >Directive 2009/3/EC of the European Union (published May 7) authorizes two >types of units of measurement for use after 2010 January 1 throughout the EU; >"legal units" and supplementary indications." > >The "legal units" are only those authorized in the Annex of Directive >80/181/EEC (as amended May 7). The "legal units" are exclusively units >obtained from the International System of Units (SI). > >"Supplementary indications" are by units outside the SI such as fluid ounce, >pint, quart, and gallon (by either the US or the UK definitions, with >continued exemption for local trade of the UK pint). The "supplementary >indications" are to have no legal standing for commerce and trade throughout >the European Union after 2010 January 1. > >The "supplementary indications" may be no more prominent than the "legal >units" on labels and in documentation. > >The DoC-ITA Press Release of May 15 fails to disclose these facts. > >Even after revisions of laws of Member States of the EU in response to >Directive 2009/3/EC to permit continued use of "supplementary indications" >after 2009 December 31, the possibility remains that exports from the US can >be rejected because "legal units" are used less prominently than >"supplementary indications" on labels and in documentation, or "supplementary >indications" fail to distinguish non-SI units as by the US or by the UK >definitions. Exporters must be made aware of these possibilities of >rejections. > >Amendment of the FPLA to *permit* metric-only labeling will assist in >avoidance of such rejections. > >My draft of FPLA 2010 would move labeling of consumer commodities from 19th to >21st Century standards of measurement. Please open the attachment. > >Eugene A. Mechtly, Retiree >Advocate of SI and Consumer Protection > >________________ >FPLA-4-30.pdf (292k bytes)
