BRUSSELS - The European Union has something important to say about its proposal to regulate olive oil on restaurant tables: Uh, never mind.
Last week, the European Commission, the European Union’s executive branch, said that restaurants should only beallowed to serve oil to customers in nonrefillable 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 European Union said its ruling would prevent restaurants from serving low-quality oiland improve hygiene. But it also prompted ridicule by European Union 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.
Business, Pages 28 on 05/24/2013