Bad news, prospectors. If the government gets its way, Argentina will no longer award metal trophies to individuals who discover a coal mine.

The government has sent a bill to Congress to repeal obsolete laws, which it argues will make it easier and cheaper to do business in the country and promote respect for individual liberties. Known as the hojarasca (fallen leaves) law, the bill seeks to remove around 70 laws, some of which date back to 1864.

“With the fallen leaves law, the government seeks to remove barriers for citizens that affect individual liberties and generate useless costs through various pieces of over-regulation,” read a government release.

Examples include a specific law on smallpox vaccination superseded by the general vaccination law, an old law allowing color television broadcasts, and a requirement for any product with a map on its label to be........

© Buenos Aires Herald