> Of James R. Frysinger >European countries apparently seem to favor government >determination of proper and allowable product sizes. >We in America tend not to go for that except for a >few products, such as liquor and wine.
"Are there more benefits than disadvantages to be gained from regulating the size of bottles, packets and containers on sale in Europe's shops? For some, consumers and industry gain from standardisation. Others consider it unnecessarily restrictive. The Commission is now examining the merits of the respective arguments as it conducts an in-depth impact assessment. The sizes of nearly all pre-packed products which are sold in European supermarkets, corner shops, DIY stores, chemists and cosmetic boutiques are regulated by two directives which date back as far as 1975 and 1980. Container sizes for wines and spirits, for instance, are fixed. The former may only be sold in the EU in 25, 37.5, 50, 75 cl bottles and a few more units of one litre or more. For most other items, a host of national sizes coexist alongside EU ones, while a minority of products are either regulated by national law or not at all. Changing consumer attitudes and doubts over the wisdom of applying such prescriptive measures have led to an extensive examination of pre-packaging rules under the Commission's SLIM initiative. This came down in favour of a fixed but easy-to-change range of sizes at EU level in those sectors where it is required. The evidence in favour of fixed sizes seems compelling. Small producers reap economies of scale when producing one size for the whole Union market. Varying package sizes is a costly option among the many marketing tools available. Fixed sizes are less deceptive for weary shoppers in a hurry, especially in those sales outlets which are exempt from unit pricing. However, the situation is not so clear-cut. Industry is divided with some sectors wanting fixed sizes, while others can operate with a mix of sizes and some are pressing for full liberalisation. Consumers and small retailers have still to come down on one side or other, although fixed sizes may benefit specific groups, such as the visually impaired. Meanwhile, Member States are liberalising. Germany recently abolished fixed national sizes for all non-liquids and others may follow suit for all non-EU sizes. The directives predate the landmark European Court of Justice judgement in the Cassis de Dijon case, which stresses mutual recognition between Member States. This may make it difficult to justify harmonising by sector. Why, for instance, should there be fixed container sizes for coffee and whisky, but not for ice-cream, baked beans or shoe polish? In addition, the 1996 Single Market review provided evidence that increased competition can lower prices and create economic growth and jobs. So the question has to be asked, do fixed sizes prevent businesses and consumers from fully exploiting the potential of the wider EU market? Assessing impact of legislation The value of legislation in this area should also be measured against the conclusions from last year's Lisbon Summit that further efforts should be made to simplify the regulatory environment, lower the costs of doing business and remove unnecessary red tape. Any conclusion will need to examine how effective might be the alternatives, such as standardisation and voluntary agreements, and consider best practice in the EU's trading partners. Given so many outstanding questions, a thorough impact assessment has been launched to: establish what innovation is relevant to package sizes and assess how regulation impacts on such innovation in the EU and elsewhere, examine the impact of alternative options, analyse market structures and canvass the views of stakeholders, and consult consumers on unit-pricing as an alternative to fixed sizes. A working document outlining options is scheduled for Internet publication early next year. This will be followed by soundings among the general public and the organisation of business test panels. The Commission intends to bring the results of the exercise together in mid-2002." http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/library/enterprise-europe/issue5/ar ticles/en/enterprise12_en.htm "Existing EU pre-packaging legislation on standard sizes is currently being reviewed. To assess the reaction to possible new rules for items sold in packs or containers, the Commission organised a Eurobarometer survey to gauge public opinion on whether to liberalise or further standardise package sizes. The survey asked consumers about their general experience with packaged and bottled products sold in shops and supermarkets. Most of those interviewed do not object to competing products being sold in different quantities. Nor do they have problems reading the quantity or volume indicated, although about half of those over 55 admit they do experience difficulties deciphering such information. Unit prices make it easier to compare the cost of packages containing different quantities, and are required by law in most large stores. Two-thirds of respondents (especially between the age of 25 and 55) are interested in knowing the price per litre or per kilo of the items they buy. Nearly half (46%) say they often look at the unit price indication. One salient finding is that a substantial majority (80%) of interviewees would like products to be sold in more standard-sized packs and bottles. For 15% this is an 'excellent idea', while 65% consider it a 'good idea'. On the other hand, about half of those polled dislike the fact - and this feeling was particularly strong among the young - that standard sizes force them to buy too little or too much. The obvious conclusion to be drawn from the survey is that consumers welcome standard sizes, but not at the expense of limiting choice. Where sizes are standardised, they would like to see a sufficient range of options available in stores to enable them to select the one they require. The survey asked which family member was responsible for the household shopping. The responses confirmed that it is still mainly women, with only 23% of men taking on that role. But there are national differences. Film star Arnold Schwarzenegger comes from Austria, where only 12% of men shop, and machos also abound in Spain and Greece. In James Bond's UK, however, 40% of men push the shopping trolley, while in the EU only Finland represents near-equality with 48% of men making the household purchases." http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/library/enterprise-europe/issue7/ar ticles/en/enterprise13_en.htm "Prescribed Weights (Note: these represent the main requirements - certain special provisions apply in some cases.) Barley kernels, pearl barley, rice (including ground rice and rice flakes), sago, semolina, and tapioca: except when 75g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g or a multiple of 500g. Biscuits: includes wafers (except when not cream-filled), rusks, crispbreads, extruded flatbread, oatcakes and matzos (except when produced and packed on premises where sold), except when 85g or less, more than 5kg 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g, 250g, 300g or a multiple of 100g Bread: whole loaves of bread in any form (except breadcrumbs) including fancy loaves, milk loaves, rolls and baps and sliced pre-packed bread, except when 300g or less 400g or a multiple of 400g. Cereal breakfast foods: in flake form, (but not cereal biscuit breakfast foods) except when 50g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, or a multiple of 1kg. Cocoa and chocolate products: a) all cocoa products (including drinking chocolate) except when less than 50g, more than 1kg 50g, 75g, 125g, 250g, 500g, 750g, 1kg. b) the following chocolate in bar or tablet form: plain, gianduja nut, milk, gianduja nut milk, white, filled, cream, skimmed milk, except when less than 85g, more than 500g 85g, 100g, 125g, 150g, 200g, 250g, 300g, 400g, 500g. Coffee, coffee mixtures and coffee bags: (for coffee bags, the weight relates to the contents) except when less than 25g, more than 5kg 57g, 75g, 113g, 125g, 227g, 250g, 340g, 454g, 500g, 680g, 750g or a multiple of 454g or of 500g Coffee extracts and chicory extracts: consisting of solid and paste coffee and chicory products except when 25g or less, more than 10kg 50g, 100g, 200g, 250g (for mixtures of coffee extracts and chicory extracts only), 300g (for coffee extracts only), 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 2kg, 2.5kg, 3kg or a multiple of 1kg. Dried fruits: apples (and apple rings), apricots, currants, dates, figs, muscatels, nectarines, peaches, pears (and pear rings), prunes, raisins, sultanas and dried fruit salad except when 75g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 7.5kg or a multiple of 1kg. Dried vegetables: beans, lentils, peas (includes split peas) except when 100g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 7.5kg or a multiple of 1kg. Edible fats: a) butter, margarine, butter/margarine mixtures and low fat spreads except when 25g or less, more than 10kg, and b) dripping and shredded suet, lard and compound cooking fat (and substitutes therefor), and solidified edible oil (except in gel form) except when less than 5g, more than 10kg, 50g, 125g, 250g, 500g or a multiple of 500g up to 4kg, or a multiple of 1kg from 4kg to 10kg. Flour and flour products: flour of bean, maize, pea, rice, rye, soya bean, wheat, and cake flour (except cake or sponge mixtures), cornflour (except blancmange or custard powders) and self-raising flour except when 50g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 500g or a multiple of 500g (except for cornflour add 375g, 750g). Honey: all honey (except chunk honey and comb honey) except when less than 50g 57g, 113g, 227g, 340g, 454g, 680g or a multiple of 454g Jam, marmalade and jelly preserves: (except diabetic jam and marmalade) except when less than 50g 57g, 113g, 227g, 340g, 454g, 680g or a multiple of 454g Milk: a) other than in a returnable container except when 50ml or less 189ml, 200ml, 250ml, 284ml, 500ml, 750ml or a multiple of 284ml or of 500ml b) in a returnable container except when 50ml or less 1/3pt, 1/2pt or a multiple of 1/2pt, or 200ml, 250ml, 500ml, 750ml, or a multiple of 500ml. Molasses, syrup and treacle: except when less than 50g 57g, 113g, 227g, 340g, 454g, 680g or a multiple of 454g Oat products: namely flour of oats, oatflakes and oatmeal except when 50g or less, more than 10kg 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg or a multiple of 1kg Pasta: except when 50g or less 125g, 250g, 375g, 500g or a multiple of 500g. Potatoes: a) for prepacked potatoes except when less than 5g, more than 25kg 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 2kg, 2.5kg or a multiple of 2.5kg up 15kg, 20kg or 25kg b) for potatoes 175g or over each, they may be sold by number (with a statement of the minimum weight of each potato). Salt: except when 100g or less 125g, 250g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg or a multiple of 1kg up to 10kg, 12.5kg, 25kg, 50kg. Sugar: except when 100g or less, more than 5kg 125g, 250g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 2kg, 2.5kg, 3kg, 4kg, 5kg. Tea: includes tea sold in tea bags but excludes instant tea except when 25g or less, more than 5kg 50g, 125g, 250g, 500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg, 2kg, 2.5kg, 3kg, 4kg, 5kg (except for tea, other than tea in a tea bag, packed in tins or glass or wooden containers, add 100g, 200g, 300g)" http://www.fst.rdg.ac.uk/foodlaw/label/pres-wt.htm -- Terry Simpson Human Factors Consultant [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.connected-systems.com Phone: +44 7850 511794
