Weak brand image and poor marketing continues to affect the prospects of Indian exports to the European Union, a top official of the European Commission said in Chennai.

"Indian companies exporting to EU need to further improve their brand image and put more thrust on marketing to increase export volumes," Stefano Gatto, counsellor and head, trade and economic affairs, European Commission, told a Round Table on business with EU, organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations on Thursday.

He stressed on the fact that European importers were highly conscious of the quality of exports mainly in respect of fruits, vegetables and other food products.

Besides health and safety standards, EU countries also measure their imports against social standards like codes of conduct and ethics, labour conditions and child labour practices, he pointed out.