WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), Martin Callanan (PPE-DE), Nirj Deva (PPE-DE), Den Dover (PPE-DE), Jacqueline Foster (PPE-DE), Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE), Roger Helmer (PPE-DE), Bashir Khanbhai (PPE-DE), Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE), Neil Parish (PPE-DE) and Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 December 2000)

Subject: Weights and measures

Is the Commission aware that earlier this year a Sunderland greengrocer, Steve Thoburn, was approached by two trading standards officers and two policemen, who, after informing him that it was against the law for him to sell his goods in imperial measurements (pounds and ounces) rather than in metric measurements, seized his imperial scales, and that Mr Thoburn later received a summons to appear in court on the grounds that he had infringed the rules which came into force on 1 January of this year designed to make Britain compliant with the EU's directives on metrification?

Could the Commission explain why it believes that it should be illegal for market traders to sell their wares in imperial measurements, and, if that is because the Commission believes that it is necessary to achieve a single market, to explain why a Single Market (as opposed to a single economy) within the European Union requires the abolition of imperial measures for the sale of loose goods?

Could the Commission also indicate whether it supports the actions of the British authorities in prosecuting a man who is both respecting the traditions of his country and offering a service to his customers which he believes they want, and if the British government were not to initiate prosecutions of greengrocers selling produce only in imperial measures whether the Commission would seek to refer the matter to the Court of Justice, or would it use the discretion granted to it by the Court of Justice (Case 87/89 (1990) ECR I 1981) not to do so?

Finally, can the Commission confirm that it accepts that the articles covering supplementary indications in the Commission's directives on units of measurement mean that is legal for traders in loose goods in the UK to display prices in both imperial and metric measures at the same time at least until 2009?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2001)

The Commission has not been informed about the case of Mr Thoburn.

The Honourable Member refers to two elements in the Community legislation concerning units of measurement.

The first element is the change to metrics, which started in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, prior to its accession to the Community. The metric system of units has been agreed under the SI (International System of Units). Most countries in the world, including the Member States, apply the metric system, with the United States as the main exception, although it is a party to the SI. The decision to implement a common system throughout the Community on metrication was taken by the Member States in 1971, 1980 and 1989. The United Kingdom fully agreed with this approach. Given the particular situation in the United Kingdom and Ireland, it was, however, agreed to implement metrication in phases, according to a detailed timeframe. As regards the final items, including goods sold loose in bulk, the transitional period was set until the end of 1999, allowing, in all, 20 years for retailers in Ireland and the United Kingdom to adapt. From that date, all products sold must have metric indication.

Another question is whether other indications may be given as well. Community Directives state to this effect that dual labelling shall be authorised at least until 2009, so as to allow all countries world-wide to adapt to the SI, whilst maintaining trade flows.

It is the responsibility of national authorities to ensure that national law, implementing Community law, is implemented in a correct way.