Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed a decision by EU governments to scrap the ban on many fruit and vegetables of the wrong shape. This means that shops will no longer face the threat of legal action for selling lanky leeks, curvy cucumbers or wonky carrots.

This arose from common standards agreed years ago to standardise EU trade in fruit and vegetables, but has proven unnecessary and the decision today comes after intense lobbying from the European Commission to scrap the rules in the teeth of opposition particularly from Italy, Spain, France and Hungary.

The decision will relax standards, and allow more irregularly shaped fruit and vegetables to be sold to the consumer where presently irregular shaped fruit and veg will more usually be used in processed food.

Speaking in anticipation of the announcement, the Plaid MEP, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, said:

"We've heard more than enough about Europe banning curvy cucumbers, square strawberries and wonky carrots. A few years ago they even brought in rules on the thickness of leeks - and on St. David's Day at that! We need strict rules on food quality and safety, but these went too far and made Europe a laughing stock.

"Now standards will be relaxed for twenty six types of fruit and vegetables to make the rules simpler and cut red tape.

"As much as twenty per cent of some fruit and vegetable crops in the EU have been rejected for the supermarket shelves because they aren't the right shape. At a time of rising prices and food shortages it is totally unacceptable to reject good quality food because it doesn't look perfect.

"This is the right decision and one which will be welcomed by consumers and farmers."

The changes will be in place by mid 2009.

Diwedd/Ends.