FOOD PACK-SIZE RULES SCRAPPED

The move could mean supermarkets and other retailers selling packs of six slices of bread or two fish fingers if consumers demand it.

At present, strict guidelines govern a range of pre-packaged consumer goods, including ice cream, frozen food, detergents, pet food, soft drinks, cleaning products, paints, shampoo and toothpaste.

For example, packaged slice bread can only be sold in 400 gram or 800 gram packs.

But yesterday EU ministers agreed to ditch the 30-year-old regulations, with the decision due to be confirmed by Euro MPs later this year. The move will scrap 27 different national rules and two EU directives on quantities in which goods can be sold.

Even Brussels Eurocrats admit the rules are too bureaucratic for modern consumer tastes.

An EU official said: “Students or grannies don’t necessarily want to buy more bread than they need and then have to freeze it and they might welcome more choice on size.”