Crossed wires: Last week we reported that online retailer Amazon.co.uk had suddenly stopped shipping electrical goods to customers in the Republic.

The good news is that the sudden stoppage might not be permanent. When we contacted Amazon it said it had stopped shipping electrical goods here because of problems implementing the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive, whereby retailers and producers must take in old electronic equipment when new equipment is sold. "We are still talking to the Government about how best to implement the directive," a spokesman said. "While the discussions are ongoing we have ceased shipping to the Republic." The spokesman said Amazon hoped to be able to resume selling electronic goods here shortly.

Thrifty 3

Mobile phone operator 3 last week launched a pre-paid service offering 3 cent text messages to any network plus 3 cent voice and video calls. Called 3Pay, this will be good news for 75 per cent of Irish mobile phone users who have pre-paid handsets. It is part of the company's aggressive pricing strategy - it already eliminated roaming charges for Irish customers travelling into the UK.

Sticky on labels

Annoyed by promises of farm-fresh, extra succulent, natural goodness on food labels? Help is at hand on two fronts. The European Parliament has approved laws, to come into force before the year's end to ensure stricter definitions are used on labels. And Irish people are also asked to give their views on food labelling to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland as part of an EU-wide programme to improve food labelling regulations. See www.fsai.ie.