asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the problems created for consumers by the wide variety of sizes of food products, which are similar, available in shops and supermarkets, making real price comparison by consumers very difficult; if he will consider introducing a requirement that all food products, in addition to carrying a basic price, would also carry the price per unit of weight or volume (e.g. bread would carry the price per loaf, plus the price per gramme) to help consumers determine real value; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Retail Displays of Food Products.
3.
Existing regulations require that the selling price of all foodstuffs must be displayed and that, additionally, the price by weight or volume, usually per kilogram or per litre, must also be shown when foodstuffs are sold prepackaged in variable quantitites or are sold without being prepackaged and are measured or weighed for sale in the presence of the consumer in the shop. Examples of such goods are meat, fruit and vegetables. Bread is normally sold in standard sizes and would not, therefore, require to be priced by weight.
There is also legislation which prescribes the sizes in which certain goods may be sold. There are many examples of such goods such as tea, coffee, jams, butter and milk. My Department are currently reviewing this legislation to determine whether more coherent ranges of sizes should be adopted in order to further assist the consumer in making real price comparisons. The Deputy may be aware that an order was made recently which establishes a more practical range of sizes for frozen vegetables.
I would also like to point out that discussions are under way at EC level on a proposal to extend the requirement for unit pricing by weight or volume to all prepackaged goods which are not sold in an agreed range of sizes. My Department are currently considering this proposal and all relevant interests, including consumer interests, are being consulted.
This question arises from inquiries I had from old age pensioners who were confused about the price of bread. The Minister said bread is normally sold in standard weights and sizes, but the fact is that a number of loaves are not standard. Is there any procedure for providing that either the manufacturer or the supermarket would be obliged to show the unit weight, the price per unit weight or volume in that situation?
There are standard sizes for bread — 400 grammes, 600 grammes and 800 grammes, but I understand there are other types of bread on offer which vary in size. It would be very difficult to price by weight — in other words, to have a standard size for all bread. However, in respect of the standard sizes, I will look into the possibility of putting the actual weight on each pan loaf. This is an area where one can over-legislate and confuse the consumer. What we are trying to do is to simplify things and give as much information as possible to the consumer. The discussion at EC level is about extending this information for the consumer and we must examine this in the interests of the consumer. It may involve a major extension of unit pricing of many prepackaged goods not currently affected as many of these goods are not subject to a range of sizes.
This is a more complex area than appears on the surface, but I can assure the Deputy that the objective of my Department is to have as much information as possible on the products on sale in the interests of the consumer. If there are any particular difficulties the Deputy has in mind, I will be happy to examine them.