State governments in Australia have backed a code drawn up by retailers that will phase out plastic bags in supermarkets by 25% per year over four years.
Starting in 2004, retailers will work hard to convince shoppers to bring their own bags or buy reusable hessian or calico bags in stores.
Claims on food labels like 'good for you' and '90 per cent fat free' could be banned under a new European proposal.
The plans to regulate nutrition and health claims are designed to protect consumers from inaccurate and misleading food labelling. They would also harmonise the way food is labelled across the European Union.
Health claims will be approved for use on labels only when the European Food Safety Authority has assessed them and they have been approved by the Standing Committee on Food and Animal Health. A summary of decisions will be published on a website and will be open to public scrutiny.
