WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4016/98 by David HALLAM Display of imperial measurements
Date: 1999-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, HALLAM
Subjects: advertising, display, international market, labelling, metrology, production, type of business, weights and measures













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91998E4016

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4016/98 by David HALLAM Display of imperial measurements  


Official Journal C 320 , 06/11/1999 P. 0108 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-4016/98by David Hallam (PSE) to the Commission(8 January 1999)Subject: Display of imperial measurementsThe 1989 Directive authorising firms to show both metric and imperial measurements together is due to expire at the end of 1999. The display of imperial measurements is particularly important for firms trading with the United States and former British colonies such as South Africa, Australia and the Indian subcontinent. Is the Commission aware of the importance of extending the provision for imperial measurements to be shown alongside metric measurements? If so, can it give some indication of when it will publish a draft directive authorising the continuation of this practice?Is the Commission aware that, with only twelve months to go before the existing Directive expires, there is considerable urgency for firms needing to plan production schedules and advertising materials during the next twelve months?Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission(10 February 1999)The directive on units of measurement 80/181/EEC(1), as last amended by Directive 89/617/EEC(2), deals with requirements for the internal market. It requires that indications of quantities be made in legal units - in principle those of the SI (International System, the modernised metric system)- which, however, can be accompanied by non-legal supplementary indications (Article 3, point 2). This provision, which was intended as an interim measure to facilitate a smooth changeover to metric, is due to expire 31 December 1999.Products destined for third country markets are not affected by these requirements and an exporter who wishes to export to other markets can take the necessary measures to prepare products in Europe to meet the requirements of the territory of destination without fear of breaching any directive provision.Notwithstanding this context, it has been brought to the attention of the Commission by the Member States and certain European manufacturers that products destined for global distribution, which currently fulfil the demands of divergent sets of legislation, could be affected by the coming into force of the metric only indication requirement for the European market. Consequently, the Commission has been requested to take account of this international trade aspect and to propose a prolongation of the use of supplementary indications.The Commission decision to adopt a proposal to extend the supplementary indications provision is imminent and the timetable foreseen for the Council and Parliament procedures plans for the directive to be adopted by November 1999. In view of the understanding in principle that the relevant provision of the directive will be delayed for a further number of years, manufacturers will not have to make any changes to their production arrangements in the near future.The Commission intends to use the transition period created by the directive amendment to actively pursue the issue of metric labelling with its trade partners in order to agree a permanent solution for products destined for the global market.(1) OJ L 39, 15.2.1980.(2) OJ L 357, 7.12.1989.