[Merged] The Europe Thread

Originally Posted by towny

Err ... correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that page, after labelling regulations on banana curvature to be a myth, go on to say that the EU has made a directive concerning the curvature of bananas?

Ok, you`re wrong

Nowhere in the following text does it talk about banana curvature. It merely states that they are classified according to "quality and size".

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by towny

If that is the case, why can we not hear an unapologetic defence of it from those with pro-EU leanings? Blair has been dithering about promoting Europe for seven whole years. He has the nerve to stand up now and define the debate as 'myth versus reality', but he has allowed those with anti-EU leanings to shape and define the debate for years. He can hardly be surprised by what he finds. How on earth does he expect to turn opinion round, after giving his opponents such a huge head start? If he fails to win the constitution referendum, he won't have to look far to find someone to blame.

You got me. The whole point of the common market approach is the design once concept. It's not truly necessary though as you can build to the highest standard and make a global product. This is what IKEA does, and why you see so many approval stamps on their packaging and image only instructions. I suppose the problem arises where you have two contradictory standards, possible for bananas, where us Brits might want straight ones, and the french curvy ones, but unlikely for fire retardancy etc.

Originally Posted by dr wadd

Ok, you`re wrong

Nowhere in the following text does it talk about banana curvature. It merely states that they are classified according to "quality and size".

lol, ok you got me - it's alluded to rather than stated explicitly. The website refers to the relevant legislation, whose title does not itself use the word 'curvature'. The legislation itself, however, does use the word 'curvature'. (bananas must be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature of the fingers," Commission Regulation 2257/94 - download it in PDF format at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/hort/hmi/com.../x_bananas.pdf )

So they are contradicting themselves, unless that is they are denying that the regulations say anything about curvature - in which case they are not so much incompetent as outright liars.

Saying it is a 'lie' is a bit harsh

[iadom]

Originally Posted by Damien

Saying it is a 'lie' is a bit harsh

How about, "economical with the truth" ( it's a lie)

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Damien

Saying it is a 'lie' is a bit harsh

Saying something is one thing when clearly it isn't is a lie.


Talking of fruit regulations, I remember a fair few years back down at the local market a fruit stall was selling some variety of orange.
EU inspector checked their size and found they were too large so would be illegal for him to sell them.
Fine thought the stall owner, I'll give them to all the OAP's at my mum's old people's home.
No, not allowed to do that, because they were larger than the EU standard they had to be destroyed as they were "unfit for human consumption"
I can't remember which bit of legislation relates to this, but its the one which was created to give Italian orange growers an advantage.

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Saying something is one thing when clearly it isn't is a lie.


Talking of fruit regulations, I remember a fair few years back down at the local market a fruit stall was selling some variety of orange.
EU inspector checked their size and found they were too large so would be illegal for him to sell them.
Fine thought the stall owner, I'll give them to all the OAP's at my mum's old people's home.
No, not allowed to do that, because they were larger than the EU standard they had to be destroyed as they were "unfit for human consumption"
I can't remember which bit of legislation relates to this, but its the one which was created to give Italian orange growers an advantage.

Morons, the lot of them. The EU is a bureaucrat's paradise.

Try looking into the same one I quoted above, it might be a kind of catch-all fruity directive.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by towny

Morons, the lot of them. The EU is a bureaucrat's paradise.

Try looking into the same one I quoted above, it might be a kind of catch-all fruity directive.

Now what was the one which declared carrots as fruit?


Here we go:

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2001/113/EC of 20 December 2001relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut purÃÃâ€*’©e intended for human consumption

for the purposes of this Directive, tomatoes, the edible parts of rhubarb stalks, carrots, sweet potatoes,
cucumbers, pumpkins, melons and water-melons are considered to be fruit,

[punky]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Saying something is one thing when clearly it isn't is a lie.


Talking of fruit regulations, I remember a fair few years back down at the local market a fruit stall was selling some variety of orange.
EU inspector checked their size and found they were too large so would be illegal for him to sell them.
Fine thought the stall owner, I'll give them to all the OAP's at my mum's old people's home.
No, not allowed to do that, because they were larger than the EU standard they had to be destroyed as they were "unfit for human consumption"
I can't remember which bit of legislation relates to this, but its the one which was created to give Italian orange growers an advantage.

How the hell can fruit be too big? Doesn't suprise me though. I remember the EU passing legislation no less, on how bendy bananas should be.

[downquark1]

This is all fascinating


But I'd rather be hearing examples of what Brussels can and can't make us do.

[iadom]

Originally Posted by punky

How the hell can fruit be too big? Doesn't suprise me though. I remember the EU passing legislation no less, on how bendy bananas should be.

I see you have read the whole thread then,

This is really stupid now. Bloody bananas

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Damien

This is really stupid now. Bloody bananas

So you agree that some EU legislation is really stupid?

Originally Posted by downquark1

This is all fascinating


But I'd rather be hearing examples of what Brussels can and can't make us do.

Heh,heh,they give you flatulence!


Incog.

Originally Posted by Xaccers

So you agree that some EU legislation is really stupid?

Yes, but I dont think this is a big issue it was asked for by minsters. The EU has passed many laws on human rights and such

I know theres bad but theres also good and this needs to be reported more rather than the negitive side getting most of the press