WRITTEN QUESTION E-0117/98 by Thomas Megahy (PSE) to the Commission (30 January 1998)

Subject: Continued use of the imperial system of weights and measures in the United Kingdom

A recent survey by the British Weights and Measures Association has shown that 74% of British people still prefer imperial quantities. Only 19% find the metric system 'more convenient for everyday use'. Even amongst people under 24, whose entire education has been in the metric system, over half habitually use the imperial system in everyday life. The introduction of compulsory exclusive use of metric quantities on packaging is supported by only 7% of the population.

Does the Commission believe it is justified in enforcing a policy which has no significant public support? Does it not agree that allowing manufacturers and distributors of products voluntarily to state quantities in the imperial system whilst complying with the legal requirements to give metric quantities would represent no discrimination against importers, no additional expense for any firm which did not feel that it was worthwhile, and no threat to the cohesion of the internal market? If so, would it therefore be willing to open negotiations, were the British government to request it, to enable amendments to be made to the directive which, under current plans, will force the British people against their will to abandon a system whose familiarity protects their position as consumers and the abolition of which appears, to a broad range of opinion, to be an unnecessary, bureaucratic measure which blatantly fails to respect national traditions?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998)

The metric system (système international (SI)) is the only recognised global system of measurement. It was developed in the interests of industry, trade and consumers to facilitate transparency of information and the reduction of costs associated with the use of multiple systems.

For more than twenty five years measures have been adopted at Community level with the full support of the United Kingdom on the phasing out of units of the imperial system. In fact, as far back as 1965, before its accession to the Community, the United Kingdom had announced its support for the adoption of the metric system. In Community legislation the long transition phase, still ongoing, demonstrates the sensitivity and understanding with which this subject was treated. In addition, special considerations were built in specifically for the United Kingdom and Ireland allowing for certain applications, such as the sale of the draught pint of beer or the indication of speed and distance on road signs, where no changeover is required until a date to be decided by those Member States themselves.

Directive 89/617/EEC of 27 November 1989 amending Directive 80/181/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement ((OJ L 357, 7.12.1989. )) provides for a further ten year period in which supplementary indications accompanying the SI units are allowed, i.e. until 31 December 1999. At the time the directive was being amended it was expected that by the year 2000 one single system of measurement would be acceptable throughout Europe. It was also felt that a very long period of double indication would discourage the switch to a single system.

However, the Commission will be reviewing the issues surrounding the forthcoming deadline in the context of the completion of the internal market and the development of global trade.