President Vetoes Food Act Amendment, Proposes Removing 'Rider'

Bratislava, 13 May (TASR) - The Food Act amendment approved by Parliament in April has been returned to Parliament by President Peter Pellegrini for reconsideration, as it includes a so-called 'rider' amending an unrelated law concerning the production and marketing of spirits. Pellegrini stated that MPs should approve this piece of legislation without such a rider during a repeated vote. The head of state recalled that the proposal drafted by MPs from the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) originally contained a single amending article to add new provisions on foodstuffs containing insect parts, as well as the rules for their labelling, placement and consumer information. However, via the Parliament-approved amendment, a new amending article was added to regulate the Agriculture Ministry's procedure in cases in which an individual submits a notification regarding the acquisition of a distillation apparatus after the specified deadline. The president pointed out that Parliament's Rules of Procedure don't allow the submission of a proposal that amends or supplements another law that isn't substantively related to the bill under discussion. "In this case, reflecting my long-held stance, I can state that Article II of the approved law clearly and unambiguously constitutes a 'rider' in relation to the rest of the approved law," stressed Pellegrini. jrg/df