European olive oil dipping bowl ban sparks online petition

The forthcoming ban on restaurants serving olive oil in jugs and dipping bowls has sparked a petition to reject the European Commission regulation.

The Government e-petition, created by D Gee, describes the move as "almost trivial except that it is a major issue from a common-sense and prevention of stupidity viewpoint" and calls for "this sort of interference" to be stopped "dead".

The EU ruling means that restaurants will only be allowed to serve olive oil in pre-packaged, factory bottles with a "tamper-proof" dispensing nozzle that adhere to EU labelling standards.

The news of the regulation, which comes into force on 1 January 2014, came to light earlier this week, causing outrage among chefs and restaurateurs.

The petition goes on to say: "This is a trivial matter from a consumer viewpoint - if you don't like the taste you send it back. There is no stated evidence of public health problems. Only the (packaging) manufacturers will benefit.

"Govt http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/Articles/21/5/2013/348643/olive-oil-ban-should-not-have-come-as-surprise-say-european-commission-and-government.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">sic] should successfully reject the directive in UK, as pointlessly meddlesome in the life of its electorate."

[Petition: reject latest EU directive on supply of olive oil in restaurants >>](http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/50222)

[Olive oil ban should not have come as surprise say European Commission and Government >>