The UK could fall victim to backtracking from Europe on the sale of misshapen fruit and vegetables.
The government’s positive approach, dubbed a rare case of the UK not “gold-plating legislation”, could be undermined by MEPs calling for a reintroduction of the ban.
Spanish MEPs in the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee have won support to bring back the ban.
The controversial ban was lifted by the European Commission in July 2009, cutting red tape surrounding the shape and uniformity of fresh produce.
The move is reported to have reduced food waste and cut retail prices by as much as 40 per cent in some cases.
Until the ban was lifted in July last year, EU rules dictated the shape and size of 36 varieties of produce, snubbing imperfect produce.
The suggestion will now be taken to the full European Parliament, although EU ministers are unlikely to approve the move so soon after the legislation’s introduction.
Spanish MEPs are keen to protect the domestic market and opposed the lifting of the ban last year, along with Italy, France and Hungary, which wanted to ensure a level playing field for food quality.
Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) chief executive Nigel Jenney reacted negatively to the suggestion. He told freshinfo: “We would reject a return to a ban on so-called ‘wonky fruit and veg’ here in the UK. The UK fresh produce industry has taken the advantage of a more flexible approach, to the benefit of consumers, especially during these frugal times. Other member states should perhaps seek to follow the good example set by the UK government in its practical interpretation of the EU Marketing Standards.
“Thanks to strenuous lobbying by the FPC, the Rural Payments Agency Inspectorate ensured that it cut out the red tape and saved the fresh produce industry significant time and admin costs, estimated at £250,000 every year. For once, the UK has not been gold-plating legislation; without this we would have been in the same boat as other EU member states, which are now seeking to turn around the legislation.”
Jenney also expressed frustration at the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) over new rules in imports. He said: “It’s frustrating that the FSA appears unable to do the same as other government agencies and to give a realistic, practical interpretation of EC Regulation 669/22009, which has introduced increased checks for so-called high-risk products and which is already having a devastating impact on importers. We are continuing to press the FSA for an urgent resolution of this issue.”
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