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European Union: what criteria for the sale of fruit and vegetables?
Many commonly consumed fruits and vegetables are subject to a specific mandatory standard in the EU. But this is not the case with cherries.
(France 2)
Many commonly consumed fruits and vegetables are subject to a specific mandatory standard in the EU. But this is not the case with cherries.
Internet users assure that kilos of cherries end up in the trash, because they do not meet the criteria imposed by the European Union. So true or false, are cherries being thrown away because of European Union standards? It’s wrong. In reality, no text specifies the size or precise points. The only obligation concerns the quality of the fruit. This European regulation specifies that all marketed fruits and vegetables must be intact, healthy, clean and practically free of parasites.
There is therefore no ban on selling cherries based on their size. On the other hand, there are, for other fruits, size or shape criteria imposed by the European Union. This concerns around ten types of fruits and vegetables. They are listed in a European regulation. These include, for example, apples, citrus fruits, lettuce, or even strawberries.
The European regulation which specifies the marketing standards for fruits and vegetables:
The press release from the European Commission which specifies the mention “intended for processing” when fruits and vegetables do not comply with standards
Non-exhaustive list.
