On the fruit side, packaging will be banned for apples, pears, bananas, oranges, clementines, kiwis, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruits. No plastic either for round tomatoes, “normal” onions and turnips, nor for cabbage, cauliflower, squash, parsnip, radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, and root vegetables. Plums, melons, pineapples, mangoes, passion fruit and persimmons are also affected. Today, 37% of fruits and vegetables are sold packaged in French stores, which represents between one and two billion packaging units used each year. This is particularly the case for products packaged in batches of 1.5 kilograms or more and “fruits and vegetables presenting a risk of deterioration when sold in bulk”.

Impact Statement: The new legislation bans the use of plastic packaging such as cellophane, trays and plastic bags for fruits and vegetables beginning 1 January 2022. There are three “exemptions” which are actually extensions to comply based on the type fruits or vegetables. The longest extension moves the deadline to 30 June 2026 for many berries. If your company markets fruits and vegetables in France, or packaging for such items, this new regulation will definitely impact your business.

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Posted on 18 November 2021