V4 countries agree to combat dual composition food in EU

PM Fico sees this topic more seriously than just a problem of different product composition.

Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, Polish PM Beata Szydlová and Slovak PM Robert Fico, from left.Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, Polish PM Beata Szydlová and Slovak PM Robert Fico, from left. (Source: TASR)

The Visegrad Four (V4) countries want to appeal to the European Commission to start to deal with the issue of the dual-quality of food in the European Union. This topic was discussed by agricultural ministers at the summit of the V4 countries in Warsaw, Poland. The V4 countries have called on the European Commission, in line with the resolution of the European Parliament as of 2013, to begin to act and prepare analysis and possibly also legislative proposals.

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“I see this topic more seriously than just a problem of a different product composition,” said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as cited by the SITA newswire. “This is a problem that is perceived in Slovakia incredibly negatively. We want to go for an in-depth analysis of the comparison.”

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Read also: Some food really is better in Austria, study finds Read more 

Slovak Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriela Matečná said that consumers expect the same quality of the same brand regardless of the country of production or purchase.

“We have the European single market, one consumer, as well as one health,” she said. “We should not create two classes of consumers, depending on which EU country they come from.”

The V4 will establish a joint working group to coordinate actions and improve the mutual exchange of information regarding the issue.

Fico is convinced that the EC will respond to the V4’s clear call. If Slovakia sees a lax attitude towards the issue on the part of the EC, PM Fico does not rule out a petition from the Slovak government. As many as one million signatures would be needed for such a petition to be valid.

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