Light Bulb Snitching: Europe Takes a Page from the White House

Europeans have taken a page from the White House. Much like the health care snitch line, Europeans are being asked to rat out people who are using traditional light bulbs.

From September 1, it will be illegal to import conventional pearl or frosted bulbs of any shape or wattage. Traditional incandescent bulbs of 100 watts will also be banned under European law aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.

They will be replaced by energy saving lights, which usually use flourescent tubes, but it is thought some consumers will still prefer their 'traditional' bulbs, particularly for reading lamps.

There is evidence of people hoarding the old fashioned bulbs around Europe and enforcement agencies are ready to crack down on unscrupulous businessmen who continue to import the "illegal bulbs" from factories in China.

In Britain, trading standards officers will be carrying out inspections and members of the public will be able to report any shop continuing to stock the illegal bulbs.

Any individual found importing the bulbs into the EU will face a £5,000 fine and it could be an unlimited amount for big companies.

Nigel Farrage, the leader of UKIP, said the public should not be encouraged to snoop.

"Under this Government we begin to resemble East Germany in the 1980s where we snoop and report on local businesses," he said. "No doubt the next move will be to snoop on your parents if they continue to use old fashioned light bulbs."