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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Grocer's anger at small kiwi rule | Grocer's anger at small kiwi rule |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A fruit and veg wholesaler faces throwing away an entire consignment of Chilean kiwis because inspectors said they were too small. | A fruit and veg wholesaler faces throwing away an entire consignment of Chilean kiwis because inspectors said they were too small. |
| Tim Down, from Bristol, said he could not even give away the 520 fruit, each of which is about the size of a small hen's egg and weighs about 60g. | Tim Down, from Bristol, said he could not even give away the 520 fruit, each of which is about the size of a small hen's egg and weighs about 60g. |
| "I was given 24 hours to think about it and my outrage grew," he said. | "I was given 24 hours to think about it and my outrage grew," he said. |
| A spokesman for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) said the consignment failed to meet EU grading rules. | A spokesman for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) said the consignment failed to meet EU grading rules. |
| Mr Down said in addition to the waste, there had been a financial and environmental cost of importing the fruit. | Mr Down said in addition to the waste, there had been a financial and environmental cost of importing the fruit. |
| 'Perfectly good' | 'Perfectly good' |
| "They are perfectly fit to eat. These regulations come at a time when rising food prices are highlighted and we're being forced to throw away perfectly good food. | "They are perfectly fit to eat. These regulations come at a time when rising food prices are highlighted and we're being forced to throw away perfectly good food. |
| "There is nothing wrong with its palatability, it's purely because it is slightly less than the prescribed minimum size." | "There is nothing wrong with its palatability, it's purely because it is slightly less than the prescribed minimum size." |
| He said he was not even permitted by law to give away the 31 10-kilo boxes of kiwis to a school or hostel and faced a fine of several thousand pounds if he did. | He said he was not even permitted by law to give away the 31 10-kilo boxes of kiwis to a school or hostel and faced a fine of several thousand pounds if he did. |
| The inspector's decision is consistent with RPA's commitment to protect consumers Barry Stedman, Rural Payments Agency | The inspector's decision is consistent with RPA's commitment to protect consumers Barry Stedman, Rural Payments Agency |
| Barry Stedman, head of the RPA, said the consignment had failed to meet the minimum standards for saleable produce, in contravention of EU grading rules. | Barry Stedman, head of the RPA, said the consignment had failed to meet the minimum standards for saleable produce, in contravention of EU grading rules. |
| "The inspector's decision is consistent with RPA's commitment to protect consumers, who must feel confident that the produce they are buying is of the right quality," he said. | "The inspector's decision is consistent with RPA's commitment to protect consumers, who must feel confident that the produce they are buying is of the right quality," he said. |
| "RPA's role is to work with traders to provide advice and assistance to ensure that this happens and to help traders carry out their business within the law." | "RPA's role is to work with traders to provide advice and assistance to ensure that this happens and to help traders carry out their business within the law." |
| Mr Down has been given a number of options, including sending the fruit back to the importer, or having them processed into juice. | Mr Down has been given a number of options, including sending the fruit back to the importer, or having them processed into juice. |
| The European Commission said earlier this month that it wanted to relax the regulations which prevented misshapen or underweight fruit and vegetables being sold. | The European Commission said earlier this month that it wanted to relax the regulations which prevented misshapen or underweight fruit and vegetables being sold. |
| The complicated marketing rules have led to long-running debates about straight bananas and cucumbers. | The complicated marketing rules have led to long-running debates about straight bananas and cucumbers. |
| "The inspectors visit us on a random basis, probably two to three times monthly and select items at random that they wish to inspect," said Mr Down. | |
| "The inspection took place subsequent to the announcement by the EC that the regulations are being modified. | |
| "We have had many items outgraded over the years, but this is, for a variety of reasons, one of the most nonsensical - the straw that broke the camel's back." |