Euro-MPs must reject 'barmy' labelling laws
Posted,12/27/2008 1:00:00 PM
Brussels, 25th December 2008 -- Many food labels would have to become bigger than the product itself in order to accommodate EU proposals for a new food labelling law, Conservative MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, has warned. The European Commission has proposed new rules, which would see nutritional information and Guideline Daily Amounts become mandatory on packaging. However Mr Heaton-Harris is attempting to amend the regulation to remove a requirement that all product nutritional information be printed in a font no smaller than 3mm - far larger than on most current packaging. For example, if the current proposals became law, a small tin of Nestle cream would need a label twice the size of the product in order to accommodate all the information. A bottle of Coca-Cola lite would just about be able to incorporate the information on its current labels, but it makes branding the label almost impossible. Mr Heaton-Harris has also warned the plans could add substantial new costs onto small businesses, who would also have to provide nutritional labelling for their foods. He said: "The EU is trying to prevent obesity, but it is the smaller portions of food that will be placed under threat. Companies will have to produce bigger portions just to fit all the information on the side. "This Christmas, we will throw away huge amounts of unnecessary packaging, and this law will only make that worse. "This is a perfect example of well-meaning bureaucrats coming up with a barmy idea that is unworkable in the real world. Consumers must be informed about the products they purchase but the EU has gone for overkill and these plans need to be amended."
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UEFA stepping up its anti -racism campaign?
Posted,9/11/2008 3:00:00 PM
Chris Heaton Harris, Conservative MEP and chairman of the European Parliament's Sports Intergroup has welcomed the launch of a new anti-racism campaign in European football but has called on UEFA to impose stricter punishments on clubs, players or fans making racist comments and gestures.
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Disabled sports or more cigarettes? European Parliament votes cash for tobacco barons and none for Special Olympics
Posted,10/25/2007 12:00:00 AM
Disabled sports or more cigarettes? European Parliament votes cash for tobacco barons and none for Special Olympics
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Labour must give the red card to tomorrow's Commission proposals on sport
Posted,7/10/2007 4:00:00 PM
Strasbourg 10th July -- Two weeks after sports policy sneaked into the revived EU constitution at Blair's last summit, the European Commission will tomorrow reveal its long-awaited White Paper on Sport. Conservatives urge the Government to ensure that the report is shelved and a new consultation started to avoid confusion as to who now is responsible for overseeing sport in the UK.
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Conservative MEP wins support to scrap rising levels of waste
Posted,7/10/2007 9:00:00 AM
The amount of rubbish we throw out could stabilise at next year's level, thanks to a proposal from Conservative rapporteur on the Waste Framework Directive Caroline Jackson MEP endorsed in Strasbourg today.
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