F&V standards' abolition, decision on Nov. 12

The European commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fisher Boel recently reinforced EU’s intention to cancel Europe’s current sales standards for 26 fruit and vegetable products out of 36.

That means the deletion of the regulations on size, weight, quality and origin of products such as onions, aubergines and apricots.

Commercial standards for 10 products, which EU considers representative of the market, would remain in force. These include citrus fruits, apples, peaches and tomatoes.

The European Commission will ask for a quick decision of the 27 Members about the cancellation of those regulations. Ficher Boel's spokesman Michael Mann said: “As an indication, the EC Management Committee will vote on November 12 in Bruxelles”.

 

Only if this ballot gather a qualified majority against the repeal, the spokesman specified, “the bill would be blocked, but I am sure that this will not occur”.

Some Countries, including Italy and Spain, strove united against this measure's introduction. They fear that dismantling the existing system may provoke the elimination of important instruments for trade as well as for consumers’ protection.

The European Commission, which has already got the “all-clear” from WTO in Geneva, seems determined to continue. The new regulations should come into force on July 1 2009.