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 BRINGING COMMONSENSE TO BRUSSELS

2nd July 2002

 

EU fruit regulations ‘bananas’

North West Euro-MP David Sumberg has welcomed a High Court ruling which says EU directives on how much a banana can bend or a cucumber can curve are unenforceable in England and Wales.

The decision indicates that standards set by Brussels for the shape of fruit and vegetables do not apply in this country.

 Mr Sumberg said the ruling was a tremendous victory for fruit and veg shops and common sense.

 “These EU rules are completely barmy and having to only sell bananas that do not bend abnormally and are at least 5.5 in long and 1.05 in round is utterly absurd,’ he said. “Parliament should decide what is illegal, not Brussels.

“The ruling will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape for fruit and veg wholesalers in the North West and will also benefit organic growers who have difficulty meeting EU requirements.”


NOTE: The High Court ruling is the result of a test case brought by DEFRA, the Government’s rural affairs department, against Asda. DEFRA claimed that Asda had failed to match EU quality and labelling standards but two High Court judges confirmed the District Judge’s decision that the rules used to bring the charges were “unknown to law” in England and Wales. DEFRA are considering an appeal to the House of Lords.

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