Differences between products sold in Romania and those sold in the EU

Romanian National Authority for Consumer Protection (ANPC) has signaled again that differences have been found in reference to food products sold in Romania and those sold in the other Member States of the European Union.

Representatives of the institution explained that they have discovered differences regarding composition, proportions of ingredients or parameters resulting from nutritional statements. 22.78% of products checked show differences in Romania as compared to the versions sold in Western Europe, stated, on Tuesday, Paul Anghel, ANPC Director General, in a special conference, according to AGERPRES.

As ANPC President Horia Constantinescu also pointed out, some foods have false labels, especially in the case of fishery products: "They are presented as extra products, with a minimum term of validity of 14-21 days, products that change their freshness day after day in such a way that what arrives inside the country cannot have the same extra quality 14 days after arrival. We must encourage fresh products, those of local origin, because it is clear that fish coming from Romanian ponds arrive much faster to the shelves of Romanian stores than any similar products coming from the EU market", Rador says.

In terms of Dual Food Quality, the European Commission published, on 24 June 2019, the results of a pan-European testing campaign of food products showing that some products are identically or similarly branded while having a different composition. Analyzing nearly 1,400 food products in 19 EU countries, the study, carried out by the Commission's in-house science and knowledge service, the Joint Research Centre, shows that 9% of the compared products differed in composition, although the front-of-pack was identical. A further 22% of products with a different composition had a similar front-of-pack. The study did not show a consistent geographical pattern.

Source:RRA,Agerpres,European Commission.Translated by Miruna Matei