Red tape gets author's goat

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is being strangled by miles of "bizarre and petty" red tape that governs everything from the correct way for a farmer to tag a goat's ear to the dangers of falling conkers, a new book says.

Author Ross Clark believes excessive regulations frustrate businesses, waste time and drive people to break the law.

He paints a picture of a fearful society dominated by meddling officials working for a nanny state intent on wiping out all risk.

"It becomes increasingly difficult to stay within the law," Clark told Reuters. "If you have laws that are simple to understand, people are more likely to keep to them."

He has spent three years collecting the strangest examples of red tape for a new book, "How to Label a Goat".

The title refers to a Welsh regulation: "The Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) (Wales) Order 2006".

Over more than 40 pages, it tells farmers how to label their livestock with tattoos or eartags and how to transport them.

BAGPIPE BAN