According to the anti waste law adopted by France in 2020, the fruits prohibited from using plastic packaging from January 1, 2022 include: apples, pears, bananas, oranges, oranges, lemons, kiwifruit, grapefruit, plums, melons, pineapples, mangoes, passion fruit, persimmons, etc. Vegetables prohibited from plastic include leek, zucchini, eggplant, sweet pepper, cucumber, potato, radish, carrot, water radish, tomato, onion, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, parsnip, Jerusalem artichoke and root vegetables.
The ban also applies to organic fruits and vegetables, but not to processed products that have been cut or peeled, fruits and vegetables that weigh more than 1.5kg and bulk fruits and vegetables that are easy to deteriorate in the open air.
According to the French Ministry of ecological transformation, in order to give businesses time to find satisfactory alternatives for "complex situations", the ban on plastic packaging of some fruits and vegetables can be delayed. For example, apricots, peaches, grapes, virgin fruits, green beans, etc. can continue to use plastic packaging, and the effective date is extended to June 30, 2023; Salads, spinach, chicory, asparagus, mushrooms, cherries, cranberries, etc. will be postponed until December 31, 2024; As for most berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and currants, it will be extended until June 30, 2026.
At present, 37% of fruit and vegetable products in France are sold in plastic packaging. According to the plan of the French government, these plastic packaging are expected to be stopped after 2026. If the merchant violates the rules, it can be fined up to 15000 euros (about 111000 yuan), and the overdue fine is 1500 euros (about 11160 yuan) per day.
However, the measure was not welcomed by the National Federation of fruit sellers, which complained that it was difficult to switch to cartons in such a short time. In addition, according to the trade association, the French prefer to buy packaged fruits and vegetables, which are not accessible to other customers in stores and supermarkets.
On the other hand, there is a conflict between Italy and the EU on the issue of plastics. Italy is still delaying the implementation of the ban on the use of plastics proposed by the EU, which also puts Italy at the center of the storm. Several non-governmental organizations, including Greenpeace, condemned how the Italian peninsula took a step backward by continuing to promote the use of biodegradable plastics. The Italian plastic tax has been postponed to 2023.
On the contrary, the EU directive aims to eliminate all plastics. Gradually, the goal of European countries is to completely eliminate plastic products in supermarkets and restaurants by 2040.
