Freshfel Europe Calls For Non-Discriminatory Packaging Rules For Fresh Fruit And Vegetables

The organisation believes that the ban on all single-use packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables in the current proposal is disproportionate and discriminatory in comparison to other food sectors.

Freshfel emphasised the need to focus on science-based solutions in supporting the move towards a more circular and sustainable supply chain, including packaging types and materials.

On 30 November, the European Commission released its proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which includes a ban on single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables in packs of less than 1.5kg.

No other food categories have been specifically targeted in the regulation, according to Freshfel.

Philippe Binard, Freshfel Europe general delegate commented, “The fresh fruit and vegetable sector is committed to enhancing the category’s sustainability to help reach the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050. We have proven this through our long use of reusable pallet pool systems and recent investments such as in-home compostable labels.

“EU packaging rules must reflect the sector’s needs to use functional and the most environmentally beneficial packaging to provide high quality and safe products to EU consumers for healthy, sustainable diets, without any unintended consequences such as food waste”.

ESM