Saturday 10 November 2012

“If I ruled the World” – a song from Brussels for UK Industry


I read with Interest recently that a very desirable perfume, together with others, faced an unexpected challenge.
Apparently “those who know best” in Brussels had decided that a small level of Ingredient in the product should lead to new labelling giving the warning that the perfume may be Allergenic.
I can only Imagine the rush of blood pressure in the perfume Industry!
I should say that based on a Yorkshire question of “How much!?” I have never bought the product.
What I do know is millions have bought the product over decades with no report of allergies.
It brought my past life rushing back and gave rise to two thoughts:
The perfume Industry is rich enough to fight or delay it....
but in the end “those who know best” will prevail.
I began the 21st Century (not my personal 21st Century you will understand!) in a fight with the EU with a small, Innovative Company offering vitally needed solutions in Industry, from a Chemical background.
What we would achieve was astounding, freeing Industries like Aerospace, Manufacturing and Engineering to solve vital Issues and continue to thrive.
We spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to prove that proposed decisions were about to be made with neither research nor evidence at the heart of it, that would damage our Innovation, our Industry and peoples jobs.
The clever part was that the EU would substitute such need for proof and refer a “precautionary” approach, at that point unheard of, but now well rehearsed.  
In reality they substituted the need for proof with speculation and opinion that would keep a special group in lucrative work for decades.
These last five years has seen me as a “neutral”, but I was reminded of the farce of Committees and Politicians who have little use in the real world, having to grab our attention in case we forget them!
“Tinkering” is what they practice – but damage is what they do.
As I have experienced the corridors of these “Black Arts” that has grown up in Brussels, I know the humour, frustrations and damage to people’s lives.
I have accepted a challenge to write about it, coming to you through trade press and concerned news press, soon.
You will be amused, yet stunned at how your life is determined by unknown faces.
Be warned that it will raise anxieties about the trust we place in others in power.
 
What of a title?
I thought “Your life in their pockets” but it’s hard to argue with my Grandsons alternative.....”Lobby Mr Blobby”.