Originally from: David
                        
I can't see our Govt banning "two-for-one" offers, or implementing bans on sales below the cost of production but I can see the French doing just that. Another example to show how local Govts can help their own by making sure the playing field is tilted theio way.

David

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c
=StoryFT&cid=1031119064632&p=1012571727166

The European Parliament yesterday backed a draft law to allow companies to run Europe-wide sales promotions such as "two-for-one" offers, although the vote would allow governments to maintain bans on sales below cost for the time being.

The proposals, yet to be approved by EU governments, are designed to break down national barriers to sales promotions, which the European Commission sees as holding up efforts to build a single market.

"This would mean that British companies would be able to use a range of legitimate marketing tools to gain a foothold in, for example, the German or French markets," said Arlene McCarthy, a British member of the European parliament.

The Commission believes liberalising the market for promotional offers, worth an estimated \x{20AC}40bn a year, would boost retailers and benefit consumers, particularly in countries with restrictive retailing rules. It says the plans would help customers reap the benefits of price transparency offered by the euro and the growth in electronic commerce.