The EU Council of Ministers has approved a deal with the European Parliament over liberalising most fixed food prepackaging sizes in the EU.
Notably, this involves phasing out fixed EU pack sizes for milk, butter, dried pasta and coffee over five years and sugar over six, liberalising the packaging of all EU food products. Only wines and spirits will retain sizing rules.
The Council overcame some conservatism in the Parliament to secure the deal. MEPs had wanted to retain a number of restrictions.
The final agreed text declared: “It should be possible to place prepacked goods on the market in any nominal quantity.”
The law does not prevent manufacturers choosing traditional sizes voluntarily. “Existing package sizes will not be affected,” noted the law.
