According to the developers of the document – the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, such changes are necessary for buyers to easily read key data: product composition and expiration date. The draft also increases transparency regarding the origin of products. Specific regulations are introduced to indicate the country of origin or place of origin of the main ingredient. This requirement is particularly relevant for fresh, chilled or frozen pork, lamb, goat and poultry meat.
Honest design
Another important change is aimed at combating the unfair practice of misleading customers through packaging design. Thus, if a product uses only synthetic flavorings, it will be prohibited to place graphic images of natural ingredients (fruits, vegetables or meat) on the label, if they are actually absent in the composition of the final product. There is also a clear rule for soft drinks: the name of the fruit can be indicated only if the fruit juice content is at least 4%. Otherwise, the label must be marked “with the flavor of…”.
Timing of adaptation
Although these amendments impose additional costs for producers and importers – related to the development of new label layouts and their printing – the draft provides for a transitional period of 12 months. This period will allow economic agents to gradually adapt to the new requirements, avoiding significant financial losses due to existing stocks of packaging materials. These measures are aimed at strengthening consumer protection in the Republic of Moldova. The draft should be reviewed by the Government and then approved by the Parliament.
We shall remind you that earlier, the legislative body adopted amendments to the Law on Internal Trade. According to them, the trader is obliged to indicate the country of origin of goods directly on the price tag or on the information board next to the product. At the same time, the use of a graphic image of the national flag is allowed, but with one strict condition: the use of the flag without the written name of the country is prohibited. According to the authors of the bill, a clear indication of the country of origin of goods can increase sales of local producers in the market of fresh products by 15%.
