EU denies ban on selling eggs by dozen

Shoppers will not be banned from buying eggs by the dozen, the MEP steering new rules through the European Parliament said today.

Germany's Renate Sommer stepped in after days of claims that legislation on food labelling would force customers to change the habits of a lifetime.

Under proposed new rules, which are still a year away from approval, produce traditionally packaged and sold by number would also have to be labelled by weight.

Critics say it could increase costs and bureaucracy for some producers and add to retail prices and may be contested by EU ministers in the coming months.

But Ms Sommer rejected the assumption that the move would force shoppers to buy by weight.

"There will be no changes to selling foods by number," said Ms Sommer. "Selling eggs by the dozen will not be banned."

The proposed legislation changed current weights and measures rules, with no explicit declaration that goods could continue to be sold by number.

Amendments which were tabled to make it clear that they could were rejected, prompting speculation that the rules as drafted would prevent food being sold by number.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said the idea "goes against common sense", adding: "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."

But today a European Commission official said there was never any intention to stop people buying goods by quantity instead of weight: "That would be stupid," he said.