CROSS-BORDER scams are costing Europeans billions of euro each year but a crackdown being launched today should make life harder for the fraudsters.

SPECIAL offers that are not so special, foot-in-the-door salesmen and ambulance-chasing lawyers will all be banned under a new EU law expected to be agreed next week.

The European Commission is preparing new food labelling rules to counter misleading advertising.

IRISH consumers have swapped the old fashioned door-to-door salesman for cross-border shopping on the internet. They top the EU league for using modern technology to get what they want outside the country.

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Byrne has said this afternoon that there must be greater vigilance regarding food safety in Europe.