The fresh fruit and vegetable sector is very engaged in bulk sales and very active in searching for alternatives to plastic packaging for the products that need to be packed. However, after analysis of the decree concerning the ban on plastic packaging for fresh raw fruit and vegetables of less than 1.5 kg, the Interprofession is denouncing a measure that is unrealistic and difficult to apply for all products concerned within the deadline imposed.
This implementation on January 1st, 2022, generates both an economic risk for many of the sector’s operators and a risk for maintaining the consumption and traceability of numerous fresh fruit and vegetables.
- In a context of significant shortage and increasing cost of packaging materials, this will lead, for the products that can find an alternative, to higher costs from the implementation of the alternatives currently available.
- The issue of harmonization of the community rules: many legal uncertainties remain regarding the application of texts or stickers on the packaging. Therefore, the sector is calling for the harmonization of these rules at the community level before any application on the national territory.
- While the other sectors are allowed to use recyclable packaging, why exclude the fresh fruit and vegetable sector from this approach?
Interfel will launch, at different levels, assessments and legal actions to clarify and secure practices for all professionals. The Interprofession will also implement various actions to ensure that this ban will not hinder the information and traceability of the products for the consumers. Finally, Interfel will make sure that it has the collective capacity in this context to develop consumption, a public health issue, and information on the developments for fresh fruit and vegetables.
"We regret that the decision to create a sectoral law was made without prior consultation with the professional sector and that the discourse on French non-transpositions is violated again by establishing a purely French position," the team of Interfel says.
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Interfel
interfel.com