MEPS BID TO SAVE THE BRITISH 'PINTA'

12.00.00am GMT Mon 12th Feb 2007

British Euro-MPs face a battle in the European Parliament in Brussels tomorrow (Thursday 2nd February) to save the traditional 'pinta'.

The MEPs have joined forces across the party divide to try and curb a bid by French-led representatives to insist that milk be sold only in metric containers.

They will be voting to fend off a challenge to European Commission plans to allow most food products to be sold in whatever size bottles and cartons are preferred by shops and customers.

Fiona Hall, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for the North East, says that the Brussels machine should be encouraged, not stopped, from cutting red tape and increasing customer choice.

The principle products that will continue to be sold in harmonised bottles across Europe are wines, spirits and instant coffee. These measures have the full support of drinks manufacturers.