Bulgaria’s Ombudsman Petitioned EC over Food Quality Double Standards

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria has submitted a petition to the European Commission over the issue of "double standards" in foods in the EU.

The petition aims to protect the Bulgarian consumers from double standards in foods ragarding the different quality of food products from the same brands sold in different EU countries. Together with non-governmental organizations, the institution of the Ombusdman calls for a new European regulation on quality control of food products.

Manolova has already held talks with other national Ombudspersons to unite in demanding a new European regulation for the protection of consumers from double standard products. It turns out that not all European institutions support the cause.

The lack of a body to monitor the quality of the products offered on the European market is one of the main reasons for the difference in the composition of the same brand products on the Bulgarian and Western European markets.

A check of over 30 products in Bulgaria proves that there are double standards of foods. These include chocolate products, baby foods and dairy products.

“We compared labels of popular foods, especially baby foods in three European capitals: Berlin, Vienna and Sofia. And we have found that the same brands in Bulgaria have different ingredients - less chocolate, less milk, less cocoa,” Bulgaria’s Ombudsperson explained.

In addition to the difference in the quality, there is a difference in the prices of these products - they are more expensive in Bulgaria. The effect from lower quality products on people was commented by the Bulgarian Doctors' Union. Ventsislav Grozev, chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Associationsays that excessive consumption of such fatty acids leads to severe atherosclerotic changes, to hypertension and subsequently, a cerebrovascular disease, a cardiovascular disease.

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency does not have the bnecessary capacity to monitor for double standard of products of the same brand on the territory of Bulgaria and the EU.

If the petition fails, citizens, NGOs and the Bulgarina national ombudsman will be organizing a petition for a referendum with a question related to establishing a single centralized controlling body to monitor the quality of the same brand products on the territory of all EU countries.

The topic will also be discussed during the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU at a forum at the beginning of 2018.

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