EU to ban selling eggs by dozen
Shoppers will be banned from buying bread rolls or eggs priced by the dozen under new food labelling regulations proposed by the European parliament.
Eggs are among many foods commonly sold by number, not weight Photo: REUTERS
Under the draft legislation, to come into force as early as next year, the sale of groceries using the simple measurement of numbers will be replaced by an EU-wide system based on weight.
It would mean an end to packaging descriptions such as eggs by the dozen, four-packs of apples, six bread rolls or boxes of 12 fish fingers.
The Government appeared to have been caught out by the change, but yesterday Caroline Spelman, the environment secretary, signalled Britain would now step in to prevent the rule being enforced.
MEPs last week voted against an amendment to new food labelling regulations that would allow individual states to nominate products that can be sold by number rather than by weight.
Individual countries are currently allowed to specify exemptions but the new rules under discussion make no such provisions.
The changes would cost the food and retail industries millions of pounds as items would have to be individually weighed to ensure the accuracy of the label.
Trade magazine, The Grocer, said food industry sources had described the move as "bonkers" and "absolute madness". Its editor, Adam Leyland, said the EU had "created a multi-headed monster".
Caroline Spelman said: "This goes against common sense. Shopkeeping is a long standing British tradition and we know what customers want. They want to buy eggs by the dozen and they should be allowed to – a point I shall be making clear to our partners in Europe."
The Food Standards Agency also indicated it opposed the change and that the regulation was still in draft form. A spokeswoman said the draft law was "an oversight" rather than a serious proposal.
However, Gordon Polson, director of the Federation of Bakers, said: "The problem is now the exemption has been omitted from the legislation, it will be very difficult to get it put back in."
Andrew Opie, food director of the British Retail Consortium, which represents 90 per cent of UK shops, said: "This is a bad proposal – we need to help consumers, not confuse them."
MEPs last week voted against an amendment to new food labelling regulations that would allow individual states to nominate products that can be sold by number rather than by weight.
Individual countries are currently allowed to specify exemptions but the new rules under discussion make no such provisions.
The changes would cost the food and retail industries millions of pounds as items would have to be individually weighed to ensure the accuracy of the label.
Trade magazine, The Grocer, said food industry sources had described the move as "bonkers" and "absolute madness". Its editor, Adam Leyland, said the EU had "created a multi-headed monster".
Caroline Spelman said: "This goes against common sense. Shopkeeping is a long standing British tradition and we know what customers want. They want to buy eggs by the dozen and they should be allowed to – a point I shall be making clear to our partners in Europe."
The Food Standards Agency also indicated it opposed the change and that the regulation was still in draft form. A spokeswoman said the draft law was "an oversight" rather than a serious proposal.
However, Gordon Polson, director of the Federation of Bakers, said: "The problem is now the exemption has been omitted from the legislation, it will be very difficult to get it put back in."
Andrew Opie, food director of the British Retail Consortium, which represents 90 per cent of UK shops, said: "This is a bad proposal – we need to help consumers, not confuse them."
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