Plans by the European Commission to stop restaurants placing refillable cruets of olive oil on tables are ‘bizarre’, says Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte.

Brussels says the rules, which require olive oil bottles to be sealed and labelled, are necessary to ensure customers know exactly what they are eating and that the oil is of good quality.

Rutte said the Netherlands had campaigned against the ruling but that it was passed by a qualified majority.

‘I think it is too bizarre for words and incomprehensible to come with this sort of proposal at a time like this,’ Rutte told MPs during a debate on Tuesday evening. ‘It will add to the burden on the hospitality industry and inspectorate… It is also bad for the environment.’