Standard units

[KARL]

I have asked Trading Standards who, instead of answering, passed me to Consumer Direct, who in turn told me this would have to be put to Trading Standards - and they have a 5 working day response time on questions passed to them. I would like an answer to something very simple and basic.

When we shop in, for example, a supermarket the pricing is always available in £x per metric unit. I am aware that traders can actually weigh or otherwise measure in any obscure unit they choose but it is my understanding that pricing must be quoted per standard metric unit. Is that correct, or can a trader choose to tell you that his fabric is priced at £x per pole, or his petrol is priced at £x per cubic yard and deny any and all knowledge of the price in readily understood (and common) units ?

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.businessli...CES&itemId=1073792199

[boxtops]

That's interesting chuck (btw you obviously had a hard night last night to judge by your photo....) I thought that had all gone out of the window and we could still use imperial measures in the shops.

[ABerrant]

The Weights and Measures Act 1985 (as amended) is the primary legislation laying out the units of measurement, weights and measures lawful for use for trade. It also lists certain units which may not be used for trade except as supplementary indications, which includes the aforementioned cubic yard but no reference to pole.

In any event the Act is in line with EC Directives which requires that where approved imperial units are used the equivalent metric units also be (more prominently) displayed.

http://tinyurl.com/33wsogv

Some imperial units remain available as the primary system of measurement for certain specific uses;
i. pint for sales of draught beer or cider and for milk sold in returnable containers;
ii. mile, yard, foot and inch for road traffic signs and for related distance and speed measurements;
iii. foot in aircraft heights and any other units used in the field of air and sea transport and rail traffic, which have been laid down in international conventions etc (Article 2 of Directive 80/181);
iv. nautical mile and knot for sea and air traffic;
v. troy ounce for transactions in precious metals;
vi. acre for land registration

[ChuckFickens]

Not as the primary unit (other than in special cases such as a pint of beer)

Metric has to be the primary unit of measurement but the requirement for it to be the only measurement on the label was never finalised.

This is a little clearer

http://www.whub.org.u...ment.asp?docno=TS0904

[boxtops]

Karl has reminded me of my early maths lessons -
"Five and a half yards = one rod, pole or perch"...