Trade urges PM to keep crown stamp

Trade leaders have called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to reverse the decision to replace the traditional crown symbol on pint glasses with a European stamp.

In a strongly-worded letter, bosses of nine brewers and pub operators said the decision to scrap the crown mark in favour of the CE (Conformité Europeanne) mark is "a needless intrusion" and goes against customers' wishes.

Punch boss Giles Thorley and Wetherspoon's chairman Tim Martin are among the signatories of the letter, which has also been sent to Tory leader David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat counterpart Menzies Campbell.

The letter says the move to scrap the crown symbol, in use since 1699, is "the latest in a long line of examples of excessive interference from Brussels which only serve to undermine support for the EU among business leaders."

The letter continues: "We were disappointed by the Government's decision to support the Measuring Instruments Directive.

"It is a needless intrusion into a system that has worked well for many years and continues to do so. We feel that it has been imposed on our industry without consultation and against the wishes of our consumers.

"We are writing to ask you to consider negotiating a derogation from the directive for the UK to allow the crown to continue to be printed on pint glasses."

Under the Directive, all new pint glasses on the market since 30 October 2006 must show the CE mark rather than the crown stamp. Pint glasses with the crown stamp that were issued before that date remain legal.

Paul Stephenson of Open Europe think-tank, which seeks EU reform, said: "It shows an important problem: the way the EU just can't stop itself from interfering."

A poll on www.onepoll.com - in conjunction with MA - showed 82% of 1,000 respon-dents opposed replacement of the crown symbol.

Who signed the Letter to PM

Giles Thorley, chief executive, Punch Taverns

Tim Martin, chairman,

JD Wetherspoon

Robert Neame, chairman, Shepherd Neame

David Franks, chairman, Brokenfoot Inns

Anthony Fuller, chairman, Fuller's

Peter Linacre, managing director, Massive

Peter Robinson, chairman, Frederic Robinson

Simon Whitmore, founder, Butcombe Brewery

Colin Wilde, commercial director, Tynemill