When we flew to Germany earlier this year, I remember a similar such moment in Frankfurt. The stewardess was giving the standard announcements, and one caught my attention. "European Union regulations state that you must remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete stop". The 'remain seated' bit is standard schtick, but we were in Germany, since when does the European Union have laws about stuff like that?
I discussed it with my cousin, and the gist of it is that it's just one of many little examples of how a continental conglomerization (like the EU, and possibly like the org Wrag's article mentioned) sinks its tentacles into things.
Boiling a frog, folks. Boiling a frog....