The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia signed a joint statement on Wednesday 19 July in which they again call on the Commission to take action on the issue of dual quality of foodstuffs (see EUROPE 11739).
In March of this year, the European Council welcomed the decision of the European Commission to address the issue of dual quality of foodstuffs in the internal market in the High-Level Forum for a better functioning food supply chain.
The countries of the Visegrad Group state their conviction that all consumers within the EU have a right to quality and safe products. “It is unacceptable that our consumers are treated differently and in a discriminatory way”, the statement reads. The prime ministers argue that every citizen has the right to buy products of the same brand which are of the same quality regardless of region or a particular country. “Non-discrimination is a key principle of the Internal Market”, they state.
The four countries call for legislative measures at EU level and ask the Commission swiftly to come forward with appropriate measures.
Unfair trading practices. At the Agriculture Council on 17 July, Justice and Consumers Commissioner Vera Jourová acknowledged that agrifood companies which mislead consumers are guilty of unfair business practices.
“It’s an issue that has grown in importance”, Commissioner Jourová recognised. In a number of countries (Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia), some people believe that the goods available to them are of lesser quality, she said. She indicated that she is determined to find answers and to restore confidence in the internal market, without adversely affecting the principle of the free movement of goods.
The Commission says that, from the information it currently has, it is not possible to draw the conclusion that there exist anomalies at EU level that might result in goods of lesser quality, the Commissioner said. In her view, further studies need to be carried out.
The Commission has stated that work would continue within the consumer protection network (which brings together the Commission and national authorities) and the High-Level Forum, which will discuss this issue in October. With the Commission not wishing to legislate at this stage, Jourová stated “let us make full use of the existing regulatory framework”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)