Fears are growing within the Italian fresh produce trade that the revision of marketing regulations governing the sale of 26 different types of fruit and vegetables in the European Union – which comes into force today – will eventually lead to a deregulation of standards on the 10 most popular fruits and vegetables, which are exempt from today's amendment.
Speaking on the eve of the new General Marketing Standard's introduction across the EU, Paolo Bruni, president of Italian fresh produce company Apo Conerpo and also president of Italy's National Federation of Agricultural and Agri-Food Cooperatives (Fedagri-Confcooperative), commented: 'We are worried that this deregulation will soon be extended to the ten products for which the current marketing standards remain.'
According to Mr Bruni, the products in question – apples, citrus, pears, kiwifruit, lettuce, peaches and nectarines, strawberries, peppers, table grapes and tomatoes – account for around 75 per cent of the total trade in fresh produce throughout Europe.
Mr Bruni said the revision of standards had gone too far. 'This is more than just a simplification of standards; this is real and proper deregulation which will end up creating confusion among consumers,' said Paolo Bruni, president of Italy's National Federation of Agricultural and Agri-Food Cooperatives (Fedagri-Confcooperative).
He also argued that consumers would no longer be able to assess product quality at the point of sale by checking the category, size and level of ripeness.
'In the absence of rules on minimum standards governing the size and shape of an apricot, a melon or a courgette, we will be helping to proliferate the number of different demands retailers can make in terms of quality and price when signing supply deals,' he added.
He continued: 'The introduction of this regulation could lead to a lowering of prices for quality fruit and as such may have a negative impact on Italian fresh produce's excellent image.'
