Les Bonner

The European Commission will scrap bureaucratic “marketing standards” that set precise measurements for the appearance, weight and size of 26 types of fruit and vegetables - including the Brussels sprout.

Unusually shaped ucumbers, carrots, aubergines and  artichokes will go on sale in shops again after unpopular European Union rules dictating the size and shape of fruit and vegetables are scrapped, but the regulation which states that “straight” bananas must be “free from malformation or abnormal curvature” will remain in place because “no objections have been received from banana growers, buyers, traders or consumers regarding this requirement”.

The rules are being dropped following protests from supermarkets, grocers, and farmers, including the Prince of Wales, who have been forced to throw away produce that do not meet requirements which were drawn up by eurocrats decades ago.

An estimated 20 per cent of the British harvest is thrown away to comply with the EU regulations, which has been estimated to add up to 40 per cent to the price of some vegetables, such as carrots.

“Nature does not always comply with a perfectly rounded apple and poker straight carrot. People should be given the chance to buy odd shaped fruit and veg as they taste just as good,” said NFU Horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst.

 Sainsbury’s was forced to abandon plans for a healthy Halloween eating campaign using”zombie brains” cauliflowers, “witches fingers” carrots and “ogres toenails” cucumbers - all misshapen vegetables that are currently banned from sale under EU rules.

Last June, Tim Down, a market trader in Bristol was prevented by food inspectors from selling kiwi fruits because they were 1mm smaller than EU rules allowed.

He lost £1,000 in sales and was not even allowed to give away the 5,000 fruits because they breached kiwi regulations.

The new proposals will still maintain specific marketing standards for: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes, but they can be relaxed by national trading standards authorities provided the produce is clearly labelled

Mr Down said: “In the EU, the fruit and veg looks much more natural. Even though it’s a decision by the EU, we’ve implememented it more rigourously than in the EU.

“When I was stopped from selling kiwis last year - I was incredibly annoyed because it had 100 per cent of the recommended vitamins, despite being a tiny bit smaller.

“I am delighted with the decision. I feel vindicated, it’s common sense at last in the face of EU bureacracy.”

The rule changes will be implemented from July 1 next year.

One of the regulations to be scrapped includes guidelines that set down the stringent EU requirements for leeks, aubergines and courgettes.

“The white part of the leek must represent at least one-third of the total length or half the sheathed part,” states the regulation.

“The difference between the smallest and largest aubergines in the same package must not exceed 20mm for elongated aubergines [and] 25mm for globus aubergines.”

Neil Parish, chairman of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, said: “Food is food, no matter what it looks like. These crazy rules have to go immediately. To stop stores selling perfectly decent food during a food crisis is morally unjustifiable.”