The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has urged
caution and no rushed decisions concerning the UK Government's
announcement that it intends to study the economic impacts of
reintroducing imperial markings.
CTSI called for a full
consultation and impact assessment on this matter in September
last year. It welcomed the opportunity to provide the necessary
expert opinion from the trading standards profession for any
study into the issue.
CTSI recognises the vital importance of getting consumer
protection right, and the units we use to weigh and measure goods
are a keystone element of the system.
There are several concerns about the reintroduction of imperial
units among the trading standards profession, which regulates
weights and measures. These include questions about trading
standards service capacity to enforce new regulations due to the
50% budget cuts experienced over the past decade. There would
also be demands for new consumer education about the units, which
have not been taught as primary units of measurement in school
curriculums since 1974.
CTSI Chief Executive, John Herriman, said: "While we recognise
the UK Government's desire to identify opportunities afforded by
the exit from the EU and also the importance of business and
consumer choice, it is important that we look at the realities of
implementation, enforcement, and their impact on consumers,
business and the economy as a whole. This is why CTSI called for
a consultation last September, and why we welcome the opportunity
to inform the study.
"CTSI believes the proposal risks creating additional
complexities for business and consumers, creating uncertainty in
the economy which undermines the Government's goals for economic
growth. Our considered view is that it is better to focus on
ensuring stability in the marketplace for businesses and
consumers than focus on the unit measures under which goods are
sold. This would be a better route to supporting market growth
rather than risk creating confusion and additional costs at
multiple levels."
