THIS week MEPs approved tough new anti-smoking laws that will take effect across Europe.

Measures include massive health warnings on cigarette packets and also a choice to use shocking pictures such as rotting teeth and scarred lungs. The health warnings will cover over a third of every packet sold by the end of September 2002. These measures may seem drastic but hopefully they will work and scare smokers out of the killer habit for good. Putting the health risks "centre stage" should change the image of smoking once and for all. Other countries like Canada already have measures like this in place and it has proved to be a big success.

We also approved plans that makers of computers and kitchen 'white goods' (eg. fridges) will have to finance special recycling facilities for their waste. Apparently Britain recycles only 9pc of its household rubbish compared with 50pc in Holland.

We live in a throwaway society with worn out computers, kettles and fridges that then flood in to the waste stream. The goal of these measures is to raise the environmental standard for everyone. Finally, after making the chickens happy, our next job is happy pigs. We are currently considering proposals that would put an end to keeping pregnant pigs in sow stalls. However, whilst the British are campaigning hard the Europeans stand back in amazement. They can never understand why we give so much attention to animal welfare.

Terry Wynn MEP