EU parliament backs British, Irish bid to keep imperial |
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Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:25
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BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The EU parliament gave its backing to British and Irish efforts to retain their imperial measures of pints and miles today, endorsing proposals that will allow the two EU neighbours to use both the imperial and the metric systems.Welcoming the move, EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen called it 'good news for British and Irish citizens, who are used to their traditions of miles and pints.'Under the previous scheme, which drew overwhelming public opposition in Britain and Ireland, by the end of 2009 both countries would have had to give firm dates for scrapping the imperial measures.Under the new proposals, still to be put to the individual member states for final approval, reusable milk bottles and draught beer and cider may be sold as pints, road signs marked in miles and bullion sold in troy ounces.For other goods 'supplementary indications' may be retained by all EU nations.This is eurospeak for allowing imperial measurements -- pounds, ounces, pints etc. -- to be used alongside metric ones.Verheugen said that this was also good news for exporters who will be able to continue to have a single label for sales in the EU and the United States, which also uses the imperial system of measures.Ireland has already switched its road signs to kilometres and metres, leaving Britain as the only EU nation using miles for speed limits and distances.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comvlb/pjgCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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EU inquiry deadline for ThyssenKrupp, Toepfer, Imperial Logistics JV Nov 27 