MEPs have called for greater funding and a wider scope for the EU school fruit distribution programme.

The European Parliament Agriculture Committee has requested better financing for the project and more detail on the products to be included.

The European Commission has proposed a budget of €90 million (£69.8m) for the programme for the school year 2009-10, which MEPs argue is not high enough: it is equivalent to giving every child aged six to 10 one piece of fruit a week for 30 weeks.

A report by Niels Busk adopted unanimously on Tuesday calls for the community contribution to be increased to €500m for 2009-10.

MEPs also believe the programme should not be restricted to children at school in the 6-10 age group, but should also be available to pre-school children.

In their amendments, MEPs call, among other points, for the practical arrangements of the programme to be clarified.

According to the Agriculture Committee, the programme should cover only fruit and vegetables produced within the EU and only fresh produce should be distributed, as processed products have less nutritional value.

The fruit and vegetables should meet the highest quality standards and should preferably be seasonal varieties, grown locally; priority should be given to sustainable production. They should be selected by member states and the commission on the basis of their health benefits.

MEPs also want the distribution of fruit to be accompanied by health and dietary advice in an appropriate style for children, as well as information on organic produce.

Finally, they have asked that the programme be complementary to other initiatives that may be underway and to allow unused funds to be transferred between member states.

On September 25, the European Parliament adopted an own-initiative report on the fight against obesity, calling notably for fruit and vegetables to be stocked in vending machines in schools and for the schools' curriculums to include information on balanced diets.