Important EU updates from the U.S. Mission to the European Union
Update on "Metrics" - Units of Measure Directive
Units of Measurement: On December 16, 2008, the European
Parliament (EP) voted in favor of adoption of the common position
which amends the existing "metrics only" legislation
(80/181/EEC). The amendment indefinitely extends the use of
supplementary units of measurement, such as pounds and inches. By
granting this extension, the Commission, Council and EP are
effectively removing a barrier to trade which would have
seriously hampered transatlantic trade as of January 1, 2010,
when the units of measurement directive was supposed to enter
into force. With the adoption of the common position by the
Council and the European Parliament in second reading, years of
lobbying by industry and government have reached a successful
conclusion. Expectations are that of the adopted directive
amending 80/181/EEC will be published in the Official Journal in
April 2009 following formal notification of the
Council/Coreper.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2008:0785:FIN:EN:PDF
For further information on EU issues and updates, please visit the U.S. Commercial Service at U.S. Mission to the EU: http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/