The EC Marketing Standards are enforced in the UK by the Horticultural Marketing Inspection branch of the RPA.

The European Commission has revised the Marketing Standards for fresh fruit and vegetables. The revisions aim to harmonise, consolidate, simplify and bring some deregulation to the Marketing Standards and their application for the fresh fruit and vegetables covered by them. This has been done by introducing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1221/2008, which amends the Marketing Standards provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007.

DEFRA and RPA carried out a series of consultation workshops in March and April 2009. Click here to read the conclusions to the consultations.

A new Statutory Instrument (SI) comes into force on the 1st of July 2009 which relates to inspection and enforcement of Marketing Standards under English law. Click here to see the new SI. The SI is also available in Welsh, click here

You can read about the changes and how they affect traders in fresh produce in this document.

The two EC Regulations concerning the Marketing Standards can be viewed here.

The HMI have prepared some advisory leaflets to guide and support the trade in understanding the changes to the Marketing Standards. A guide for retailers and a general guide for all traders.

If you have any queries or are in any doubt as to what your obligations are, you should contact your local Inspection Delivery Manager.