John Bufton, UKIO MEP for Wales, Nant Glas, Powys, European rulings must be cut down (From Hereford Times)

John Bufton, UKIO MEP for Wales, Nant Glas, Powys, European rulings must be cut down

8:00am Saturday 5th May 2012 in Letters

WE often hear of absurd legislation coming from Brussels and complain about the stranglehold of ridiculous health and safety legislation on businesses, but a recent hairbrained initiative emanating from the European Commission is certainly a cut above the rest.

A health and safety directive that could be signed this week would force hairdressers to wear non-slip shoes at work, outlawing high heels and wedges, and deems jewellery such as rings and watches unhygienic.

The agreement has been drawn up between a union of European hairdressers a group of European salon owners, who are both ‘social partners’ of the European Commission. If it is signed, it would be binding in all 27 member states.

I have never heard of accident or injury resulting from hairdressers wearing jewellery anymore than in any other field of work, and fully comprehend that workers in the beauty industry take their personal appearance very seriously as a representation of their own unique style.

I can imagine hairdressers up and down the country will be furious at these ridiculous plans to allow Brussels to regulate what they wear, but what’s worse is the warning from the National Hairdressers Federation which estimates the plans will cost the UK industry alone £3 million a year in red tape.

I stand by every hairdresser’s right to wear what they want to work and believe dress code should be something decided by the salon owner, not by a group of penpushers in Brussels.

JOHN BUFTON, UKIP MEP for Wales, Nant Glas, Powys