Here’s a handy list of every myth about the European Union since 1992

Last year’s referendum campaign will be remembered
by many as six months of untruths, myths and
outright lies.
But it didn’t start with the campaign - and it hasn’t
stopped since.
The European Union has compiled a comprehensive,
alphabetical list of every myth peddled about the bloc.
From standardised condom sizes and a ban on corgis,
to off-licenses being prohibited and ‘Made in Britain’
labels facing the axe, there’s no shortage of fanciful
claims and scare stories.
And one by one, they’ve explained why the claims are
bunkum, nonsense or exaggeration.
You can find the full list here - but here’s a few of
our favourites.
This glaring error in a Tory Brexit document will make
you wonder if they're taking negotiations entirely
seriously
1. The Queen’s corgis to be banned
(2002)
Nope. This was demanded by a committee of animal
protection experts that had nothing to do with the EU.
2. Standardised Christmas Trees
(1992)
Bunkum. There have been no EC regulations
concerning standardised Christmas Trees.
Again, the claim appears to have been sparked by
specifications drawn up by the “Christmas Tree
Growers Association of Western Europe”, which is
nothing to do with the EU or EC.
3. Bombay Mix to be renamed
Mumbai Mix (2006)
As far as anyone can tell, this was made up.
4. Cod no longer to be called cod
(2001)
Claims the EU planned to force retailers to replace
English fish names and replace them with latin names
were untrue.
5. Condom sizes to be standardised
(2000)
Piffle. Again, this was a directive from a voluntary
body, the European Standardisation Committee, which
has nothing to do with the EU.
6. Prawn Cocktail crisps to be banned
(1993)
Miraculously , they are still on sale.
7. All ‘.co.uk’ domains to be replaced
by ‘.eu’ (2000)
Poppycock . There was no such suggestion.
8. EU plot to rename Trafalgar
Square and Waterloo station because
they upset the French (2003)
Bunkum. This was sparked by the rantings of Francis
Carpenter, who was head of the European Investment
Fund. There was neither a plot nor a plan to change
UK place names, nor could the EU do so if it wanted
to.
9. Milk jugs to be banned (2010)
Untrue. The European Commission “fully supports” the
UK Food Standards Agency’s advice that “milk jugs
that are clean and stored appropriately before and
after filling are totally in line with EU legislation.”
10. Mushy peas to be outlawed
(1995)
Not quite. It sprang out of a new directive governing
artificial colourings in foodstuffs. Fresh and processed
vegetables were banned from artificial colours - but
following requests from member states, an exception
was included for three colours in ‘processed mushy
and garden peas’.
11. Barmaids to be banned from
showing cleavage (2005)
Incredible. And untrue. This came out of an EU
directive requiring employers to assess the risk of
skin and retina damage for employees who work in
the sun all day.
Quite how many outdoor bars people thought there
were in Britain in 2005 is anyone’s guess, but there
was no proposed ban on low cut tops for barmaids or
anyone else.
12. Paddling pools deeper than 12
inches need a full-time lifeguard
(1993)
Again, no. The European Commission does not have
the right to insist on the presence of a lifeguard for
swimming pools, nor has it ever tried.
13. EU tells women to hand in worn-
out sex toys (2004)
There was no demand for users of vibrators to trade
in their old models before taking a new one for a spin.
However, the Waste Electronic and Electrical
Equipment directive ensures retailers offer to recycle
old goods at no cost.
14. Saucy postcards to be banned
(1993)
To quote Jacques Delors’ chief spokesman Bruno
DeThomas: “this story is absurd and contains no truth
whatsoever.”