"Lower product safety and incorrect labelling are violations," he told a joint news conference with Croatian Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak, adding that "uneven quality is not a practice that goes towards strengthening the single market."
"The interest is to have a uniform product quality on the single market," he stressed.
This was Mimica's first official visit to Zagreb as the European consumer protection commissioner.
The European consumer protection policy rests on three pillars - consumer rights protection, product safety control, and strengthening of consumer awareness of their role in the functioning of the single market, he said. "Consumer rights protection and product safety control eventually lead to higher competitiveness."
Speaking of consumer protection in Croatia, Minister Vrdoljak said more than half the complaints were about the telecommunications sector, followed by utilities.
Asked how was it possible that people received warnings if they were not charged lump sums for utilities but according to consumption, Mimica said that under European law a service that had not been provided could not be charged and that there were enough European regulations to prevent that.
Vrdoljak said Croatia was aligning regulations in that field and that citizen pressure would help bring order in utility companies.
He said the number of complaints showed that citizens were well-informed about their rights. He said there were not many queries about the electricity sector, meaning that citizens should be educated further.
Croatia has had a European Consumer Centre since July 1, while the consumer protection association should be consolidated, said the minister.
Mimica also held talks with Health Minister Rajko Ostojic on the safety of medical products and is scheduled to meet with Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Branko Grcic.