
France is on the verge of passing laws that would ban ads, clothing designers and websites from using models that are ultra thin or promote anorexia. A new legislation that has been passed by the National Assembly and approved by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's government will now go before the French Senate. The proposal outlines up to $47,000 in fines and two years imprisonment for anyone found to compromise someone's health or promoting excessive thinness. Each case will be determined on an individual basis.

From the article:
In 2006 the international fashion world was shaken by the deaths of two models, one Uruguayan, the other Brazilian. They had literally starved themselves to death, the Uruguayan by living on a diet of lettuce and soda, the Brazilian by eating only apples and tomatoes for three months.
That year, stick-thin models were banned from Madrid's week of designer runway shows.