§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the intended advantages to horticulturists and the consuming public of the EEC regulations on standards of quality and packing for fresh cut flowers and foliage which require that the maximum permitted difference between shortest and longest stem lengths shall range from 2.5 cm to 10 cm depending upon code number; and what is the cost of supervising and enforcing this regulation.
§ Mr. StrangThe regulation recognises that reasonable uniformity of stem length increases the commercial value of most cut flowers and foliage, and ensures that in this respect the same descriptive terms are applied to home-grown and imported produce. Inspection of this produce at ports and markets is part only of the wide range of duties falling to the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate and separate costing is impracticable.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why EEC regulations require that, in the packaging of flowers, paper and other materials in direct contact with the flowers must be new; and if he will seek an amendment to permit use of recycled packing material.
§ Mr. StrangThe regulation is in line with accepted practice. We do not regard it as precluding the use of wrappings newly manufactured from salvaged material.