Dual quality of food: EC releases common testing methodology
Staff Writer |
The European Commission (EC) has just released a new common methodology for comparing the quality of food products across the EU.
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The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's Science and Knowledge service, has developed a common methodology to allow national consumer authorities to carry out tests comparing the composition and characteristics of food products sold with similar packaging across the Union.
This step complements the actions already taken by the Commission following the State of the Union speech of President Juncker.
The Joint Research Centre is presenting the methodology today at a meeting of the High-Level Forum for a better functioning food supply chain.
Elzbieta Bienkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: "All European consumers are entitled to a fair deal on the Single Market.
"The common methodology we developed together with Member States, consumer organisations and stakeholders from the food supply chain will help shed an evidence-based light on the different compositions of identically branded food products across Europe.
"I am glad that the dedicated forum on the food supply chain made the relevant parties heard in a rich and sound debate."
Vera Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, said: “The Single Market cannot be a double standard market. All EU citizens must feel that they are treated in the same way and are offered fair and clear information on the products they buy.
"They cannot be misled by similar packaging. I encourage all national authorities to use it in the coming months, so that we can put an end to this practice."
Under the coordination of the Joint Research Centre, laboratories across a number of EU Member States will now apply this methodology in a pan European testing campaign to collect data on the scope of the dual quality issue.
First results should be available by the end of 2018. This exercise should provide practical guidance for authorities investigating misleading practices. ■