Environment

Plastic packaging of fruit and vegetables: what does the new decree say?

Publié le null - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

The new decree regulating the ban on the sale of fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic was published on June 20, 2023. From 1er in july, this ban comes into force again, with an exception for 29 fruits and vegetables, as well as for ripe fruit. What are the new provisions?

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Image 1Crédits: markobe - stock.adobe.com

This decree is issued under the Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Act (Agec) which prohibits since the 1er january 2022 the retail sale of fresh fruit and vegetables in plastic packaging, except when packaged in batches of more than 1.5 kg. The Act provides for exemptions for

fruit and vegetables with a risk of deterioration when sold in bulk

.

The new text lists 29 fruit or vegetables exempted from the ban, in addition ripe fruit (

sold to the final consumer at full maturity

) and sprouted seeds.

It follows the cancelation of an initial text published in October 2021 that provided for a gradual reduction in the list of fruit and vegetables authorized for sale in plastic packaging and granted an exemption to the rule until June 2026 for certain particularly fragile foods.

Reminder

As this progressive timetable and a number of derogations were deemed illegal by the Council of State, the Council of State annulled the decree in a decision of 9 December 2022.

Exemption from the ban on plastic packaging: which products are concerned?

  • Endives, asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, early potatoes, early carrots and small carrots.
  • Salad, lamb's lettuce, saplings, herbs, spinach, sorrel, edible flowers, mung bean sprouts.
  • Cherries, cranberries, cranberries and physalis.
  • Ripe fruit, i.e. fruit sold to the final consumer at full maturity and which is marked on the packaging presented for sale.
  • Sprouted seeds.
  • Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, redcurrants, burrow, red currant and currant, blackcurrants and kiwai.

Please note

for products to which the prohibition applies, the decree specifies that packaging consisting of all or part of plastic is permitted until 31 december 2023 in order to permit the disposal of packaging stocks.

Moreover, the elastics necessary for the grouping of several small fruits or vegetables, such as those presented for sale with grapes (radishes, carrots, etc.) or aromatic herbs remain authorized.

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