European Commission withdraws proposal that restaurants should only be allowed to serve olive oil to customers in non-refillable bottles with proper content labeling, says not enough member nations supported it

Nevin Barich

BRUSSELS , May 23, 2013 (Associated Press) – In PR shambles, EU scraps mocked proposal to regulate olive oil bottles in restaurants

The EU has something important to say about its proposal to regulate olive oil on restaurant tables: Uh, never mind.

Last week, the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, said that restaurants should only be allowed to serve oil to customers in non-refillable bottles with proper content labeling. The refillable bottles are a staple on restaurant tables across Europe for diners who want to douse bread or salads.

The EU said its ruling would prevent restaurants from serving low quality oil and improve hygiene. But it also prompted ridicule by EU critics, who said it showed the authorities in Brussels are out of touch with the real world.

On Thursday, the Commission said it was withdrawing the proposal because not enough member nations had supported it.

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