Draft regulation
On Friday, the website of the Government Legislation Center published a draft regulation on detailed requirements for the packaging of certain spirit drinks, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“Due to the recent appearance of alcohol in sachets that confusingly resemble children’s food products (fruit mousses), it is necessary to regulate the rules regarding packaging for certain spirit drinks so that the packaging does not mislead consumers,” the justification states.
Just a bottle or a can
The provisions of the proposed regulation specify that spirit drinks in unit packages of nominal size packages up to 200 ml are placed on the market in bottles or cans.
Spirit drinks placed on the market in bottle or can packaging must not raise doubts or be misleading regarding the data enabling the identification of the food and its distinction from other foodstuffsin particular foodstuffs intended for children, by their description and presentation.
The project provides for a transitional period of 30 days, which will prevent possible damage that could be incurred by entities marketing the drinks that are the subject of the project.
The regulation is to enter into force on the day following its announcement.
The “alcotube” scandal
The media recently reported on the sale of alcoholic beverages in soft packaging resembling mousse, “alcotubes”.
After the case was publicized, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced “blocking the practice of alcohol sachets.”
On Tuesday, OLV, the producer of the so-called sachets of alcoholic beverages under the Voodoo Monkey brand announced that it was withdrawing the entire batch of products from the market and immediately stopping their production.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, emphasized that law must be created to prevent the situation from happening again. (PAP)
