This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7457218.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EU prepares U-turn on wonky fruit | EU prepares U-turn on wonky fruit |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission says it wants to loosen the rules that prevent knobbly fruit and vegetables being sold alongside more shapely examples. | The European Commission says it wants to loosen the rules that prevent knobbly fruit and vegetables being sold alongside more shapely examples. |
| But the Commission says its efforts to simplify EU legislation have been resisted by some countries. | But the Commission says its efforts to simplify EU legislation have been resisted by some countries. |
| The complicated marketing rules have spawned long-running debates about straight bananas and cucumbers. | The complicated marketing rules have spawned long-running debates about straight bananas and cucumbers. |
| The Commission says misshapen fruit should be sold "with some sort of label for use in cooking". | The Commission says misshapen fruit should be sold "with some sort of label for use in cooking". |
| "In an era of high prices and growing demand, this makes more sense than just throwing them away," said a statement from the office of Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. | "In an era of high prices and growing demand, this makes more sense than just throwing them away," said a statement from the office of Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. |
| Resistance | Resistance |
| A year ago, the Commission pledged to simplify the marketing system for fruit and vegetables by removing unnecessary standards - part of the drive to cut red tape. | A year ago, the Commission pledged to simplify the marketing system for fruit and vegetables by removing unnecessary standards - part of the drive to cut red tape. |
| The Commission proposed keeping the existing standards for just 10 categories of fruit and vegetables, scrapping the standards for 26 others. | The Commission proposed keeping the existing standards for just 10 categories of fruit and vegetables, scrapping the standards for 26 others. |
| Advertisement | |
| What consumers think of the possible rule change | |
| "The Commissioner is determined that this should go ahead and is surprised by such strong resistance to such a practical example of simplification," said the statement sent to the BBC News website on Monday. | "The Commissioner is determined that this should go ahead and is surprised by such strong resistance to such a practical example of simplification," said the statement sent to the BBC News website on Monday. |
| Among the 26 foods designated to be removed from the Commission's standards list are: aubergines, beans, carrots, courgettes, cucumbers, leeks, melons, onions, plums and spinach. | Among the 26 foods designated to be removed from the Commission's standards list are: aubergines, beans, carrots, courgettes, cucumbers, leeks, melons, onions, plums and spinach. |
| The standards would remain for: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces and endives, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes. | The standards would remain for: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces and endives, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes. |
| Commission regulations for fruit and vegetables are extremely detailed, specifying their desired appearance, weight, size and other features. | Commission regulations for fruit and vegetables are extremely detailed, specifying their desired appearance, weight, size and other features. |
| For example, Regulation No 1292/81, laying down quality standards for leeks, aubergines and courgettes, states that for Class One leeks "the white part of the leek must represent at least one-third of the total length or half the sheathed part". | For example, Regulation No 1292/81, laying down quality standards for leeks, aubergines and courgettes, states that for Class One leeks "the white part of the leek must represent at least one-third of the total length or half the sheathed part". |
| For aubergines, "the difference between the smallest and largest aubergines in the same package must not exceed 20mm for elongated aubergines [and] 25mm for globus aubergines". | For aubergines, "the difference between the smallest and largest aubergines in the same package must not exceed 20mm for elongated aubergines [and] 25mm for globus aubergines". |