DURING the last five years, the British Weights and Measures Association (BWMA) has been active in setting up meetings between representatives of British industry and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), now renamed the Department for Business, Inn

DURING the last five years, the British Weights and Measures Association (BWMA) has been active in setting up meetings between representatives of British industry and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), now renamed the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), to discuss how British and foreign firms would be affected by the EU's Metrication Directive EC/80/181, banning the use or display of traditional British units when it came into force on January 1, 2010.

It was BWMA that contacted most American trade organisations making the USA aware of the damage and extra expense the directive would inflict on US exports to the UK and Europe, as all products would have to be re-tooled and labelled exclusively in metric units.

BWMA also made strong recommendations to the EU and British Government for the retention of imperial units and parity with metric units under the Law. Due in part to vigorous campaigning by the BWMA committee, recent changes to the law have now been implemented, allowing continued use of some imperial units of measurements after the January 1 this year.

The new EU Directive on Units of Measurement (2009/3/EC) rescinds the 2010 New Year deadline for the end of supplementary indications, allowing the use of imperial alongside metric indefinitely. So we can now continue to enjoy a pint of beer or cider or order a pint of milk from the milkman, and you can continue to see your road signs indicating distances in miles and yards.

If only market traders were allowed to sell produce by the pound and not get prosecuted for doing so, that would be a real step for freedom of choice and democracy.

DEREK NORMAN

Brampton Road

Huntingdon