The EU is justly famous for bureaucratic excess, but it’s still possible to be surprised by quite how far the Commission is prepared to go in its efforts to make the everyday lives of ordinary people just that bit more miserable. Brussels has taken the time (nothing else better to do, chaps?) to decree that, across the EU, ’standard’ milk must contain 3.6 percent fat. In Sweden ’standard’ milk has 3.0 percent fat. Horrors! The Swedes have been given an exception until 2009, but after then, who knows? Writing in Aftonbladet , Johan Hakelius doesn’t seem too impressed (well, I don’t think he is – it’s in Swedish).

Thanks to Swedish political editor guy for this shocking revelation.