13-09-2007
EU announces plan to end full metrication of UK
The European Commission has confirmed it has dropped its requirement to convert the UK fully to the metric measurement system, it has been revealed.
According to reports, although it will still be a requirement for current legislation governing metric measurements to be obeyed, it is acceptable for the old imperial system to be used also. Until this recent announcement, full conversion for the UK had been scheduled to occur in 2010.
"I want to bring to an end a bitter, bitter battle that has lasted for decades and which in my view is completely pointless. We're bringing this battle to an end," said Gunter Verheugen, EU commissioner for industry. "I organised a huge consultation, and the result was that industry told us there was no problem with the existing system," he added.
Under the abandoned programme of metrication, imperial road signs would have been required to be replaced.
The first full description of the metric system of measurement was given by John Wilkins in 1668.
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