HB376 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John Merrill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Agriculture and Industries Department, metric labeling required under certain conditions, regulation of weights and measures further provided for, Secs. 8-16-2, 8-16-3, 8-16-4, 8-16-5, 8-16-7, 8-16-15, 8-16-56, 8-16-90, 8-16-93, 8-16-94, 8-16-101 am'd.; Secs. 8-16-95, 8-16-96, 8-16-97, 8-16-98, 8-16-99, 8-16-100, 8-16-102, 8-16-103, 8-16-104, 8-16-105 repealed

Summary

HB376 updates Alabama's weights and measures rules to NIST standards, allows flexible labeling (inch-pound, metric, or both), and relaxes several packaging and sale-by-weight rules for various goods.

What This Bill Does

Key changes include updating references to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for weights and measures, authorizing the Board of Agriculture and Industries to set labeling and packaging rules under NIST standards, and requiring packaging to use inch-pound, metric, or metric-only labeling. It also repeals several older requirements related to sale by weight and specific packaging rules for items like milk, ice, cornmeal, grits, flour, coal, coke, and charcoal. In addition, it eliminates some authority of the commissioner to enter certain premises to test weights and measures, shifting some enforcement responsibilities.

Who It Affects

• Businesses involved in packaging and selling commodities (manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers) in Alabama — must follow the updated labeling and packaging rules and may need to adjust packaging formats or sizes to comply with new standards.
• General consumers who buy packaged goods — may see labeling that uses metric, inch-pound, or both, depending on the Board's rules and market practice.

Key Provisions

• Replace references to the 'national bureau of standards' with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for weights and measures standards.
• Authorize the Board of Agriculture and Industries to adopt labeling and packaging rules under NIST to implement dual inch-pound and metric labeling or solely metric labeling based on market demand.
• Require packaging to use inch-pound and metric labeling or solely metric labeling for certain commodities.
• Repeal several existing requirements related to sale by weight and packaging for items such as dairy products, ice, oil, cornmeal, grits, flour, coal, coke, and charcoal, and remove certain enforcement language related to entry to test weights and measures.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Agriculture and Industries Department