During A Recession, All We Need Is More Regulations On Businesses?

Via Businesspundit, I see this somewhat incredible story of entrepreneur abuse:

A man who sells leftover vegetables from his garden to passers-by has been ordered to comply with EU rules on weights and measures.

The Northumberland landowner was amazed to receive a warning from trading standards officials after they spotted an honesty box next to his stall, reports the Daily Telegraph.

They ordered James Cookson, who says he takes between £5 and £10 a week selling vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste, to meet European Union requirements.

Officials from Northumberland County Council told him the parsnips, spinach and leeks grown in his walled garden should be sold by metric weight, following EU rules, and sent him four pages of guidance.

I will say, however, that I disagree with Drea when she says that this is an act of "socialism" without parallel to anything in the U.S. While of course European entrepreneurs face a more strict regulatory environment, you don't need a strong dose of democratic socialism to have frivolous regulations on entrepreneurs. A more free-market country like the U.S. has plenty of equally crazy laws, and crazy enforcements of those laws. I've chronicled a few of those here and here. For the most damning evidence, check out this excellent story on licensing laws that Forbes did a while back.