XN000022-1983-12-23 — Page 6

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1983

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DAIRY PRODUCTS 60 METRIC

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THE DAIRY PRODUCTS TRADE WILL COMPLETE ITS METRICATION PROGRAMME THIS YEAR, THE METRICATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TODAY (DECEMBER 23).

AFTER THAT, THE VOLUME OF MILK AND ICE-CREAM WILL BE MEASURED IN 'LITRE AND MILLILITRE INSTEAD OF GALLON, QUART', 'PINT' OR 'FLUID OUNCE'.

TO PUBLICISE THE CHANGE 10 000 POSTERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED FOR DISPLAY BY DAIRY PROCESSORS, SUPERMARKETS AND GENERAL FOOD STORES.

A METRICATION COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE DAIRY PRODUCTS TRADE WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY TARGETS OF OUR CAMPAIGN,+

AS A RESULT. THE COMMITTEE FORMED A WORKING GROUP UNDER THE CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES SECTOR, IN JUNE 1979, TO COORDINATE THE TRADE'S CONVERSION PROGRAMME. THE WORKING GROUP CONSISTED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAJOR DAIRY PROCESSORS.

+THE WORK OF THIS GROUP WAS BASICALLY CONFINED TO THE METRICATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED OR PACKED IN HONG KONG FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION, IN PARTICULAR MILK AND ICE-CREAM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

+THE TRADE WAS GIVEN A THREE-YEAR SOFT CONVERSION' PERIOD STARTING 1980, DURING WHICH A DUAL LABELLING SYSTEM WAS ADOPTED AND LOCAL DAIRY PROCESSORS WERE ASKED TO DESIGN NEW METRIC PACKS, MAKE OPERATIVE AND MARKETING ADJUSTMENTS AND LAUNCH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES TO PREPARE FOR THE HARD CONVERSION TARGET DATE OF JANUARY 1983, HE ADDED.

HARD CONVERSION MEANS THAT SOLE METRIC UNITS ARE TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND EVENTUALLY IN PACKING AND LABELLING SO THAT THE PRODUCTS CAN BE EXPRESSED IN A UNIFIED AND SYSTEMATIC SET OF FIGURES.

+CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN ADAPTING TO THE NEW SYSTEM SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IT THROUGH DUAL LABELLING OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, HE ADDED.

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