The European Parliament has accepted pressure from EU member states and agreed to phase-out set pre-packaging sizes for products including milk, dried pasta and rice.
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The second reading vote is a retreat for MEPs, who had been pushing for the retention of pre-packaging sizes for these and other products. The sizes will now just be retained for wines and spirits.
“The EU is aiming to maximise competition and provide more freedom of choice for consumers,” said a parliament communiqué.
UK MEPs scared that the proposal would outlaw the use of certain traditional prepackaged sizes for bread, secured an amendment stressing that in future manufacturers were free to make food products in any size they liked.
Conservative MEP Malcolm Harbour said: “Obligatory national sizes for products will be lifted giving greater flexibility to producers. This means bakers can now have the best of both worlds.”
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By GlobalDataSet pre-packaging sizes for milk, butter, coffee, dried pasta and rice will disappear over five years and for white sugar over six years.
