{"id":17746,"date":"2022-09-17T19:25:59","date_gmt":"2022-09-17T19:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17746"},"modified":"2022-09-24T21:26:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T21:26:32","slug":"measurement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/","title":{"rendered":"Measurement [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#Units_of_measurement_in_the_EU\" title=\"Units of measurement in the EU\">Units of measurement in the EU<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#Key_Points\" title=\"Key Points\">Key Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#The_SI_base_units\" title=\"The SI base units\">The SI base units<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#Compound_units\" title=\"Compound units.\">Compound units.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#Supplementary_indications\" title=\"Supplementary indications\">Supplementary indications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#Application\" title=\"Application\">Application<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/measurement\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Units_of_measurement_in_the_EU\"><\/span>Units of measurement in the EU<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>SUMMARY OF:<br \/>\nDirective 80\/181\/EEC on the approximation of EU countries\u2019 laws relating to units of measurement<\/p>\n<p>It lists and defines the legal units that must be used to express quantities in the European Union (EU). It specifies that the metric units of measurement \/ International System of Units (SI units)* are applicable in the EU.<\/p>\n<p>Council Directive 80\/181\/EEC has been amended several times. The last one, introduced by Commission Directive (EU) 2019\/1258 for the purpose of its adaptation to technical progress, amends the annex as regards the definitions of SI base units.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Points\"><\/span>Key Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>SI units are mandatory in the EU for economic, public-health, public-safety and administrative purposes.<\/p>\n<p>SI units originated from international resolutions adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) to which all EU countries adhere.<\/p>\n<p>The directive lists and defines the permitted and mandatory units of measurement in a series of annexes, including the following.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_SI_base_units\"><\/span>The SI base units<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Time: the second (s).<br \/>\nLength: the metre (m).<br \/>\nMass: the kilogram (kg).<br \/>\nElectric current: the ampere (A).<br \/>\nThermodynamic temperature: the kelvin (K).<br \/>\nAmount of substance: the mole (mol).<br \/>\nLuminous intensity: the candela (cd).<\/p>\n<p>Over 20 SI-derived units, with special names and symbols (e.g. Frequency: hertz (Hz), Force: newton (N), Electric resistance: ohm (\u03a9)).<br \/>\nThe prefixes designating decimal multiples and submultiples (e.g. Kilo: 103 and k, Milli: 10-3 and m).<br \/>\nUnits permitted in specialised fields only (e.g. Vergency of optical systems: dioptre, Mass of precious stones: metric carat).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Compound_units\"><\/span>Compound units.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The definitions of the units are based on natural constants, allowing for accurate measurements even on a very small scale. As such, they can be used not only in everyday life, but also for purposes requiring very high precision, like scientific research or advanced technological applications.<\/p>\n<p>Exemptions: The directive does not affect the use of units in air and sea transport and rail traffic as laid down in international agreements binding the EU or EU countries.<\/p>\n<p>Derogations are only applicable in Ireland and in limited circumstances:<\/p>\n<p>the mile, yard, foot and inch continue to be permitted on road traffic signs and for distance and speed measurements;<br \/>\npints continue to be permitted for the sale of milk in returnable containers and draught beer and cider;<br \/>\ntroy ounces can continue to be used for precious metals.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Supplementary_indications\"><\/span>Supplementary indications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive also allows the use of supplementary indications (those of quantity expressed in units of measurement not contained in the directive). They cannot, however, be used by themselves; they can only accompany the SI units listed and defined in the directive and the SI units have to predominate.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application\"><\/span>Application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It has applied since 1 October 1981 and had to become law in the EU countries by 1 July 1981.<\/p>\n<p>BFor more information, see:<\/p>\n<p>Units of measurement (European Commission)<br \/>\nGeneral Conference on Weights and Measures (BIPM-CGPM)<br \/>\nInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO).<\/p>\n<p>International System of Units (SI): a system of physical units of measurement based on the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela, and mole, together with a set of prefixes to indicate multiplication or division by a power of 10. It is the modern form of the metric system and the only system of measurement with an official status in nearly every country in the world.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Council Directive 80\/181\/EEC of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement and on the repeal of Directive 71\/354\/EEC (OJ L 39, 15.2.1980, pp. 40-50)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Directive 80\/181\/EEC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17746\" data-postid=\"17746\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17746 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Units of measurement in the EU SUMMARY OF: Directive 80\/181\/EEC on the approximation of EU countries\u2019 laws relating to units of measurement It lists and defines the legal units that must be used to express quantities in the European Union (EU). It specifies that the metric units of measurement \/ International System of Units (SI [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17746"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17746"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18371,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17746\/revisions\/18371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}