site.btaCommissioner Jourova: Problem of Dual Standards in Food Quality Could Be Resolved Very Soon

Sofia, April 30 (BTA) - Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner Vera Jourova Monday told a news conference it was possible to solve the problem of dual standards in food quality very soon. She shares Bulgarian Ombudsman Maya Manolova's view that the problem should be solved as soon as possible.

Jourova participated in a conference on "Consumer Law and Policy Today. Can We Do Better?" in Sofia.

The European Commission's package, New Deal for Consumers, was developed after thorough analysis of consumer protection, said Jourova. Consumer protection is based on the fact that consumers are the weaker side of the commercial relationship. Under the New Deal, the Commission suggests better redress opportunities, including the first EU collective redress in cases when tens or hundreds of thousands or even millions of consumers are affected by an unfair commercial practice. A more precise definition of prohibited dual standards is introduced for products sold under the same brand with different qualities and ingredients.

Jourova said: "We are introducing harmonisation of penalties which should be imposed in cases of cross-border infringements and we are addressing the needs of consumers in the digital era, especially in relation to platforms when we want them to inform consumers who they buy the goods from," so they know the address to send a complaint if something is wrong.

Jourova said food quality must be the same throughout the Single Market. The Commission has already published the legal opinion that dual quality standards constitute unfair practice. The methodology for testing of food products was completed last week and will be delivered to all the Member States and the bodies responsible for consumer protection, so that testing can start immediately, looking for the same brands with different quality and composition.

The consumer protection bodies can engage in dialogue with producers, asking them to justify the different quality, said Jourova. The Commission does not rule out that the producers may have objective reasons for it. However, without an adequate explanation, the authorities should start the procedure against producers because the Commission is of the legal opinion that this is unfair commercial practice. The results could be seen even this year.

Jourova also said there were three brands which are improving their recipes and some chains have ceased to stock some products.

Taking a question, the EU Commissioner said that there will be a harmonisation of penalties because they are higher in some EU countries and lower in others. Jourova explained that this will prevent traders from selecting countries for non-compliance based on the size of the penalties.

Jourova said the New Deal for Consumers package is very ambitious and the Commission counts very much on the Bulgarian EU Presidency to give it a strong impetus at the beginning of the legislation process because the package has to be adopted both by the Council and by the European Parliament.

Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov said that consumer protection policies are a priority for the Bulgarian EU Presidency. He said that if adopted the measures proposed by the EU will increase consumer interest in the multifunctional internal market which will be beneficial for compliant businesses and consumers.

Meanwhile, socialist leader Kornelia Ninova said in a statement that the new EU rules for the quality of foodstuffs should apply to all goods. "Last year we raised the issue of the double food standards in the EU. Then we were accused of being anti-European because we wanted equal rights. We consider this a discriminatory issue as there can't be products in the same packaging and brands but with different ingredients."