Consultation outcome

Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales

From:: Office for Product Safety and Standards and Department for Business and Trade
Published: 3 June 2022
Last updated: 27 December 2023 — See all updates

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Choice on units of measurement: consultation response

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Choice on units of measurement: guidance on markings and sales

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Detail of outcome

We received 101,108 responses to our consultation. Out of the responses we analysed, we identified 93,041 as being from consumers, 4,718 from businesses and 3,179 from academia, healthcare, government and trading standards, and other organisations.

The Government acknowledges the concerns many respondents expressed about possible changes to the current system used for units of measurement. Analysis of consultation responses shows that while a small minority would welcome greater choice and flexibility in the units used for domestic trade, the majority of respondents expressed limited or no appetite for increased use of imperial measures.

Ultimately, it was decided that the arguments against making any changes, including arguments concerning consumer confusion, increased costs for businesses, and barriers to international trade, taken together with the overwhelming response against the increased use of imperial measures, outweighed the arguments in favour. Nonetheless, the Government did give particular consideration to the argument that increased use of imperial units could provide greater inclusivity for those more familiar with them than metric. However, the Government felt that, on balance, this concern could be adequately addressed through improved guidance to raise awareness of current freedoms to display imperial measures, rather than requiring legislative change.

Original consultation

Consultation description

The government is committed to reviewing the current law to identify how more choice can be given to businesses and consumers over the units of measurement they use for trade, while ensuring that measurement information remains accurate. The evidence gathered from this consultation will inform the government’s plans to provide a choice on weights and measures for consumer transactions.

We want to hear from a broad range of stakeholders that interact with all consumer transactions based on units of measurements – including businesses, trade associations, enforcement authorities, consumers, and consumer organisations.

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