HC Deb 19 July 1999 vol 335 cc435-6W
Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement explaining the total amount spent by the EU on the disposal of fruit and vegetables in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will list the tonnage of each particular fruit and vegetable so disposed of. [90422]

Mr. Rooker

[pursuant to the reply, 14 July 1999, c. 265]: The Government have no wish to see good food go to waste and have consistently opposed the system of paying compensation for produce withdrawn from the market, arguing that it distorts the market and encourages surpluses. The reform of the EU fruit and vegetable regime in 1996 was a step in the right direction, providing for reductions in withdrawal prices and volumes withdrawn over the first six years of the reform. The reform also encouraged greater use of free distribution to charities and other non-profit making institutions. A considerable amount of produce withdrawn in the UK has been distributed to such bodies in the past year. In addition, it is hoped that it will be possible to distribute fruit to schools in the coming season, following a recent change in the rules which allows transport costs to be claimed.

Provisional quantities of each product withdrawn in the EU during the 1997–98 marketing years:

Tonnes
Cauliflowers 172,928
Apricots 16,965
Nectarines 72,688
Peaches 89,616
Lemons 7,866
Tomatoes 240,828
Aubergines 4,050
Pears 86,208
Table grapes 133
Apples 357,615
Satsumas 4,033
Mandarins 1,836
Clementines 68,964
Oranges 144,819
Melons 17,030
Watermelons 6,850

Source:

EU Commission data