SINN Féin's Martina Anderson has hit out at "Occupied Tayto" over its legal action against a small trader for selling "Free-Stayto" in Northern Ireland.
The MEP was reacting to the Northern Ireland crisp company's legal case against a Co Down man for selling the Republic's separate Tayto crisps brand in the north.
Mark Ferris, from Ballynahinch, accepted breaching Tayto's trademark by selling in Northern Ireland the southern-manufactured brand of Tayto.
Responding to the dispute on Twitter, Ms Anderson claimed that firms not competing in each others' markets could violate EU rules.
Read More: 'I feel victimised' says man brought to court for selling southern Tayto
Posting an image of the Republic's Tayto crisps, she tweeted: Free-Stayto should be available in the north.
"Not competing in each others' markets is 'market sharing'. A violation of EU rules.
"Suing a small trader leaves as bad a taste in my mouth as Occupied Tayto."
Ms Anderson recently garnered much online reaction after wearing footballer James McClean's Ireland jersey during a debate in the European Parliament. There is no dress code or restriction on messages on clothing for the European Parliament.
