The decision was made in Bratislava yesterday at a consumer ministerial focusing on dual food quality.

This became a topical issue after several consumer organisations found that multinationals sold products of inferior quality in eastern and central European countries compared to those sold in western Europe.

European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova announced in Bratislava today that a single analysis standard would be presented in the first half of 2018 to prevent dual quality of products.

However, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic decided to conduct their own food analyses, Agriculture, Forestry and Food Minister Dejan Židan told the STA over the phone from Bratislava.

"We do not want to wait half a year or longer," the minister said. Slovakia will coordinate the tests and results are expected in March 2018.

Židan believes that the tests conducted by the four countries will allow them to take a more active part in discussions about the single food test standard planned by the European Commission.

"The participants shared the view that dual quality of products was unacceptable," Židan expressing satisfaction that the ministerial was a high-level event, as many countries were represented by their prime ministers.