EU launches directive on ‘dual food’ quality | Progresiv

Following long-lasting complaints from EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe, the European Commission, on 11th April, launched a region-wide directive that bans ‘dual food’ quality.

In March 2017, Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, raised the grievance over ‘dual food’ quality to Brussels. Shoppers in CEE would observe a stark difference in quality of food available across the border in Western European countries. In Slovakia and Hungary, shoppers would drive across the border to Austria to purchase the same brands that are available in their country, or from the same retailers. Suppliers claim that ingredients do differ from one EU state to another to suit local tastes, a practice that is allowed under EU rules only if ingredients are clearly labelled.

The European Commission proposed a ‘A New Deal for Consumers’ to strengthen EU consumer rights and enforcement. One of the initiatives of the deal will be the tackling of dual quality of food products. An EU directive will allow consumer rights authorities of each member state to fine suppliers and retailers for ‘dual food’ practices. Products marketed as identical in several EU countries, but have a significantly different composition or characteristics, will be fined at 4% of the trader’s annual turnover in each applicable state. There will be some exemptions if the food company can prove that the taste preferences in one part of Europe differs from those in another area.

The impact of this directive is not expected to be instant or consistent across the EU states. This is because, as a directive, it relies on the consumer rights authorities of each EU state to regulate its market. Although there is an appeal from the European Commission for explicit legislation to outlaw such practices and harmonise food quality across the EU. (www.igd.com)