International Business Must Act Now To Save Measurement Flexibility, Warns BWMA

International Business Must Act Now To Save Measurement Flexibility, Warns BWMA

February 12, 2007

    LONDON, Feb. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Asian and
Australasian businesses need to know that the display of
US, British imperial and industry-specific measurements
alongside metric could be illegal in the European Union in
less than three year's time. 

    BWMA (British Weights and Measures Association) is
concerned that many international businesses are not aware
of this situation, or of a current consultation by the
European Commission that closes in three week's time asking
for business views on the issue.

    At the moment, businesses operating in the European
Union have the option of showing US or imperial alongside
metric for all economic purposes (such as on product
packaging, websites, catalogues, etc).  Under EC Directive
80/181, however, extra measurement information will be
illegal within the EU from 1 January 2010.  

    If the ban on US and other measurements alongside
metric goes ahead, Asian and Australasian industry will be
forced to duplicate manufacturing processes when selling
goods both in Europe and internationally, since they will
no longer be able to use one process for both metric and
non-metric markets. 

    According to BWMA Director John Gardner, "A ban on
US and British units does not only affect UK and US business
-- businesses from other parts of the world are also
affected since they rely on these measurements in the
global marketplace, particularly the USA, and for
traditional industries". 

    The ban will apply to all products, packaging,
advertisements, instructions, brochures, magazines, books,
e-commerce, internet sites, internal business processes,
catalogues, etc.  No industry is exempt from the ban. 

    The European Commission consultation closes in three
weeks, on 1 March 2007.  Businesses and other interested
agencies should respond via its email box:
[e-mail] 
 
    Link to the EC consultation:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/prepack/unitmeas/uni_ms_en.htm

 
    BWMA's October 2006 newsletter
http://www.bwmaonline.com/Yardstick%2028%20-%20October%202006.doc


    BACKGROUND INFORMATION

    The Metric Directive is intended to require metric
units of measurement to be used in all aspects of life in
the European Union. The use of a uniform system of
measurement units is considered by the European Commission
essential for the purposes of public health, safety, and
trade.


    For more information, please contact:

     Mr. John Gardner
     BWMA Director
     Email:  [e-mail] or [e-mail]

     Mr Vivian Linacre, President BWMA
     Fax:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     issuer of press release

     David Delaney, BWMA PRO
     Tel:    [phone]

     British Weights & Measures Association
     Tel:    [phone] (24 hr answering m/c) 


SOURCE  British Weights and Measures Association