A decades-long Christmas market tradition in Germany has reportedly been killed off under European Union law.
According to a report on December 2 by news outlet Kieler Nachrichten, the famous Christmas market in the rural town of Bordesholm has sported homemade cakes made by local residents for more than half a century, with the confectionary item now a mainstay of the attraction which pulls in around 8,000 tourists each year.
But the practice is being axed in 2024 over fears it goes against a Brussels-made edict, namely EU Regulation 852/2004.
Under that, the people who make the cakes in their home kitchens are actually considered “food businesses”, requiring them to adhere to food labelling, health and safety as well as certification standards.
As such, continuing to practice the tradition would put the bakers involved at risk of fines or other forms of legal penalty.
One anonymous State secretary tasked with looking into the matter confirmed that those involved in baking the cakes risked breaking EU rules.
“The law is the law,” the secretary said, while another official said that there was no room for them to grant the bakers any form of legal exemption.
“For us, this is a slap in the face,” the unnamed main organiser of the event reportedly said.
“The cakes are a traditional part of the event.”
In 2023, €10,500 was reportedly raised by sales of the cakes for various clubs and associations in the local community.
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