Who's confusing whom?

The Spectator "Cofffee House Blog"pointed out on Saturday that we are being subject to confusing, not to say dangerous, pressures.

On the one hand newspapers like The Sun and The Daily Mail, and even some energy suppliers have been offering free or very cheap low-energy light bulbs. In addition the EU has declared, and DEFRA will enforce in the near future, the illegality of conventional filament bulbs. We shall have little option, once our present stocks of conventional bulbs are exhausted. (We shall probably have to replace some fittings which will be too small to accommodate the low-energy bulbs.)

On the other hand DEFRA prints the following advice for anyone who breaks one of the new bulbs:

"Vacate the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes. Do not use a vacuum cleaner, but clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid creating and inhaling airborne dust. Sweep up all particles of glass fragments and place in a plastic bag. Wipe the area with a damp cloth, then add that to the bag and seal it. Mercury is hazardous waste and the bag should not be disposed of in the bin . All local councils have an obligation to make arrangements for the disposal of hazardous household waste."

Odd that our nanny state with its concentration on health and safety, so that it warns us that peanut butter may contain peanuts and soup when heated could be hot, prints no warning on the new light bulbs. Or does the saving of energy override all other considerations? Or are the Government merely covering their own backs, like the peanut butter and soup makers?