The Lithuanian government has asked five multinational food manufacturers to explain why the products they sell in the Lithuanian market differ in composition from those sold under identical brands elsewhere in the EU.
If the explanation does not convince the government, it may launch an investigation into possibly unfair commercial practices, according to Deputy Justice Minister Irma Gudžiūnaitė. If found guilty, the companies are liable to fines of up to 100,000 euros.
“We have selected specific products and are asking the producers to explain why the composition of certain goods in Lithuania is different than in other EU member states,” she said in a press release on Friday.
The companies are expected to give their responses to the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority by the end of October.
Earlier this year, the European Commission passed a set of rules that ban identically branded products being sold with different ingredients in different markets.
