Joint answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission
Written questions : E-004388/11 , E-005055/11 , E-005563/11 , E-005756/11
4.7.2011
European Union food legislation is designed to ensure a high level of protection for human health across the EU whilst ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market. Member States have a key role to play in ensuring that food products placed on the market comply with EU food safety requirements. There are efficient systems in place to ensure this is the case, including a Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed to which Member States must notify any information on the existence of health risk from food or feed.
Besides ensuring the safety of foods and beverages in Europe, the legislation is also mindful to ensure consumers are fully informed as to the nature and characteristics of the food they consume. This is dealt with via stringent requirements on food labelling. The composition of foodstuffs has to be clearly indicated in the ingredients list and the nature of the product has to be specified by name.
As regard quality of food products, not related to safety issues, a study recently carried out by the ‘Association of Consumers in Slovak Republic’, with the support of the Commission, has shown that the composition, of six branded food products and their prices can vary substantially between seven EU countries.
For reasons of the small number of samples and products tested, and because of the lack of information about the sampling methodology in the data as published so far, the results of this study cannot be considered representative for the composition and price of food products in old and new Member States in general. The Commission has requested the detailed results of the study and will examine them further.
Such differences may occur due to consumer preferences and tastes, consumer expectations (including about prices), technical specifications of production lines as well as availability and access to raw materials. As a general rule, food companies decide what to place on which national market at which price within the EU. For example, well-known chocolate brands often formulate their product differently to accommodate different tastes in the United Kingdom and Ireland on one hand and the continent on the other.
The Commission has through its consumer information and education actions contributed to raising the awareness of citizens in new Member States about consumer rights, including the key rules regarding the safety and labelling of food. In Bulgaria this campaign was executed in 2010[1]. In addition, the Commission will this year publish a food safety information and education section in all national languages on Dolceta[2], the ongoing online consumer Education site.
The Commission will continue to pay particular attention in the future to the results of any other further studies carried out on the same subject.
OJ C 365 E, 15/12/2011