Metrication
Metrication
Having a single consistent set of units of measurement in use for trade reduces costs for business and enables consumers to make price and quantity comparisons more easily. The United Kingdom is now substantially metric, with the vast majority of trade taking place in metric units.
The UK changed over to metric units in the 1990s with the final changeover, for loose goods, taking place on 1 January 2000.
Metric units of measurement must be used for most transactions regulated by the Weights and Measures Act 1985. The only imperial units permitted to be used for trade are the pint for draught beer, cider, and bottled milk and the troy ounce for precious metals. However, imperial units may continue to be used alongside metric in dual labelling and consumers can continue to request imperial quantities.
In 2009 the legislation was updated to remove the deadline that would have preventing imperial from being used alongside metric in dual labelling in the future. There are no further deadlines.
The following table gives conversions from metric to imperial and vice versa.
1 Litre (l) = 1.76 Pints 1 Pint = 0.568 Litres (l)
1 Kilogram (kg) = 2.205 Pounds (lb) 1 Pound (lb) = 0.454 Kilograms (kg)
100 Grams (g) = 3.527 Ounces (oz) 1 Ounce (oz) = 28 Grams (g)
1 Kilometre (km) = 0.621 Miles 1 Mile = 1.609 Kilometres (km)
Further guidance on the use of metric units was produced for business and the public sector at the time of the switchover. Copies can be found in the archive section.
Trading Standards Departments are responsible for enforcement of weights and measures legislation and can offer further advice and guidance on compliance.
