EU agriculture officials were expected to vote this week in favour of scrapping marketing regulations governing the size and shape specifications of 26 fresh produce lines.
The abolition would become effective on July 1, 2009 and would cover apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocados, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, chicory, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell and watermelons. But specifications for some of the largest volume lines such as apples, bananas, pears, citrus, strawberries and tomatoes would remain unchanged whatever the outcome of the vote.
