Some media already captured the information that European regulations concerning sale of fresh fruits and vegetables have been substantially amended. It was reported that rules limiting the shape and size of fruits and vegetables would disappear and curved cucumbers would finally return to the market. However, the rules change in many other regards; some of the changes will certainly be noticed by consumers themselves.

Present change consists especially in simplifying rules. 36 special trade norms for individual sorts of fruits and vegetables existed before 1^st of July, now their number was reduced to ten. Special trade norms defining quality, maturity and size of products, were preserved only for such sorts of fruits and vegetables that are traded most in the EU, e. g. for apples, strawberries, citrus fruits, peaches and nectarines, tomatoes and peppers. Consumers can recognize these sorts on the basis of quality class labelling (choice quality, quality I, quality II). With apples for example the norm for individual quality classes defines permitted defects of colour, skin and phylogenesis or deviations from the prescribed weight of fruits whereas the least number of defaults is tolerated for choice quality.

The so-called general trade norm applies to other sorts of fruits and vegetables defining only minimal requirements. Such fruits and vegetables can be sold only sufficiently grown, mature and in condition withstanding transport and manipulation. No quality classes are defined with these sorts.

Consumers will be able to find fruits and vegetables that will bear such labels as ‘for use as animal feed’ or ‘for direct ingestion’, ‘for kitchen use’. For goods declared in this way no quality requirements are applied. However, nothing changes the fact that all sorts of fruits and vegetables including dry shelled fruits (almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts, etc.) can be sold only if they are not affected by rotting or moulds and must be pest-free. Likewise nothing is changed on other safety requirements, i. e. for example on maximum limits for pesticides, nitrates, heavy metals, etc. All fresh fruits and vegetables have to be designated by country of origin.

Also sale of processed fruits and vegetables, among others chopped fruits and vegetables, remains unchanged. Chopped fruits and vegetables can only be sold in undamaged closed packages. The facts that have to be stated on the label include among others the use-by date and temperature in which the product should be stored. In shops they have to be stored in cooling systems where the temperature from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius is kept.

Changes of legal regulations after July 1 do not apply to fresh bananas and potatoes.