The European Commission has said it has abandoned plans to end the use of imperial measurements in the UK and Ireland.

Ton Van Lierop, spokesman for the EU's Industry Commissioner, Guenter Verheugen, said the end of an exemption allowing limited use of the pint, the mile and the troy ounce, which was due at the end of 2009, would not now be implemented.

EU-wide use of uniform metric measurements dates from 1980 - years after Britain and Ireland decided to move to the metric system for most purposes.

Since the measure was introduced, its 'sundown clause', which would end the limited exemption granted over pints and miles, was twice extended, from 1989 to 1999 and then 2009.

Following a year-long consultation, the commission now believes that there is no need to phase out those non-metric measurements.

Officially the exemption only applies to: pints for milk in reusable bottles, as well as beer and cider on draught; the mile for road traffic signs and speed and distance measurements; and troy weight for precious measurements.

For other goods 'supplementary indications' or imperial measurements may be retained alongside metric ones.

The commission says allowing the UK and Ireland to maintain those exemptions indefinitely recognises their local nature and impact. They do not constitute any impediment to cross-border trade, it says.

Indeed many exporters said the dual measurements made it easier to export to the US, for example, which still uses imperial measurements.

'We have listened attentively to the people and the vast majority are in favour of these proposals,' said Mr Van Lierop. 'We want to respect the cultural and traditional values when they are not affecting the market.'

Mr Van Lierop said the EC believed the new rules would be good for exports, and while of particular importance in Britain and Ireland, they will be valid throughout the European Union.

However individual member states may yet decide to ban the imperial measures.

'It's fantastic news that someone has finally executed an ounce of common sense,' said Neil Herron of the Metric Martyrs campaign group in England.