EU facing fight over crackdown on eggs

An initial decision by the European parliament may mean all groceries being sold by weight rather than numerical quantities.

If the rules were to come into force, they could spell the end of packaging descriptions such as eggs by the dozen, six bread rolls, or 10 fish fingers.

Even promotional offers such as eight chocolate bars for the price of six could fall foul of the legislation, according to trade magazine The Grocer.

The fears surfaced after MEPs voted against an amendment to new Food Labelling Regulations last week that would have allowed individual states to nominate products that could still be sold by number.

Countries are currently allowed to specify exemptions, but the proposed system does not make that provision.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman insisted the changes appeared to go "against common sense".

"Shopkeeping is a long-standing British tradition and we know what customers want. They want to buy eggs by the dozen and they should be allowed to – a point I shall be making clear to our partners in Europe," she said.

Tory MEP Syed Kamall added: "At a time when all businesses are under pressure to keep costs down, this directive will put further pressure on corner shops, bakers and supermarkets. These costs will be passed on to customers and could put up the price of eggs and baked goods.

"In Britain, millions of pounds could be wasted by shops and bakers having to change packaging just to comply with a directive which nobody here asked for or voted for."

"Most shoppers I've spoken to think this is a joke and want to continue buying eggs by the dozen or bread rolls and buns by quantity rather than by weight."