U.K. 'size 0' model ban scrapped

LONDON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The British fashion industry rejected the Model Health Inquiry's recommendation that models qualify for health certificates to work, officials said.

The Daily Telegraph said the initiative was started in an effort to keep "size zero" models off the catwalk in the wake of the deaths of two anorexic models last year.

The plan was to have models who want to work in England apply for certificates proving they are in good health.

However, the initiative was dumped because other fashion capitals such as New York and Milan didn't want to do likewise and because there were fears the certificate requirements might mean some models and designers would skip London Fashion Week, amounting to a financial loss for the city, The Telegraph said.

Hilary Riva, the chief executive of the British Fashion Council, penned an open letter to the fashion industry promising efforts would continue to be made to encourage models to live safe and healthy lifestyles.