U.S. Metric Association
The U.S. Metric Association (USMA), based in Windsor, Colorado, is a non-profit organization that advocates for total conversion to the SI (metric) system in the United States (metrication).
Founded in 1916, it was originally called the American Metric Association.
USMA publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for its members on the state of the metric system in the United States: Metric Today.
Background
The Metric Act of 1866 declared the metric system to be “lawful throughout the United States of America” and in all business dealings and court proceedings.
At an international commercial congress the Treaty of the Meter, also known as the Metre Convention (Convention du Mètre ) of 1875 was signed by 17 countries, including the US, making the metric system the international system of weights and measures. Note that this was a meeting of international states to facilitate commerce. This treaty, then, falls under the overview of the United States Department of State, which has devolved oversight to the United States Department of Commerce.
The Mendenhall Order of 1893 scrapped the previously used standards and definitions for the yard, pound, gallon, and bushel. It adopted the standards of the metric system and redefined the yard, pound, gallon, and bushel in terms of metric units.
The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 started a voluntary metrication process in the US and, as amended by the Omnibus Foreign Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, declared the metric system to be “the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce”.
Today, approximately 95% of the people in the world routinely use metric units in their everyday personal and business lives. The remaining 5% are mostly Americans, although many Americans also routinely use metric units. It is the measurement language of commerce. The role that science plays in this is to provide the means for defining and measuring the size of the units involved. Those are then available to all businesses and people around the globe.
Mission of the USMA
The US Metric Association (USMA) advocates completion of the ongoing US conversion to the metric system, officially known as the International System of Units (SI).
In support of this mission, the USMA provides a public medium for information and discussion, reports of metrication within the US, a history of the use of metric units in the US, a related bibliography including relevant laws, an answer source for industrial inquiries, a cadre of people knowledgeable about the metric system, training aids and supplies for educators and the public, a certification program that has been used in industry, and various citations and awards for those supporting this mission.
The USMA is in cooperative communication with various state and federal governments, both legislative and executive, and with various industrial and professional societies, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), many of whom are involved in standards development.
Short-term goals
The labeling of some goods as to the amount included are regulated by the federal government, for example by means of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). Some goods are labeled by states or weight-and-measure districts, usually in a manner described by the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (published by the National Conference on Weights and Measures). Some goods have no labeling guidance.
Complete adoption of the UPLR
The National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) published a revised model Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation which went into effect on January 1, 2001. This has been adopted legislatively or by regulation by all but New York State. Once New York State adopts the UPLR, then goods sold in the US not subject to federal regulations and laws may have their contents labeled solely in metric units if that is the desire of the producer or manufacturer. Other producers and manufacturers may continue to provide dual labeling (metric and non-metric) if they so desire. Metric-only labeling would be merely an option. USMA would like to see the UPLR completely adopted.
Amendment of the FPLA
An amendment to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act has been proposed and is waiting approval by Congress. This would permit goods sold in the US subject to federal regulations and laws to have their contents labeled solely in metric units if that is the desire of the producer or manufacturer. Other producers and manufacturers may continue to provide dual labeling (metric and non-metric) if they so desire. Metric-only labeling would be merely an option. USMA would like to see this FPLA amendment adopted.