common sense approach

[Brigadier]

The truth about EU Banana regulations.
They do exist and they do mention bendy bananas.
They dont however ban bananas.

The European Commission itself admits that it’s partially true that Brussels is meddling with our beloved bananas. But you will also be pleased to know that the directive itself points out that the purpose is not to ‘impede the free circulation of bananas in the Community’

In other words the EU wants to allow the free movement of Bananas

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1333/2011
of 19 December 2011
laying down marketing standards for bananas, rules on the verification of compliance with those
marketing standards and requirements for notifications in the banana sector




In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the bananas must be:
— green and unripened,
— intact,
— firm,
— sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,
— clean, practically free from visible foreign matter,
— practically free from pests,
— practically free from damage caused by pests,
— with the stalk intact, without bending, fungal damage or dessication,
— with pistils removed,
— free from malformation or abnormal curvature of the fingers,
— practically free from bruises,
— practically free from damage due to low temperatures,
— free from abnormal external moisture,
— free from any foreign smell and/or taste.
In addition, hands and clusters (parts of hands) must include:
— a sufficient portion of crown of normal colouring, sound and free from fungal contamination,
— a cleanly cut crown, not beveled or torn, with no stalk fragments.

Are all of the EU population blind now? Can't they choose a suitable banana for themselves?

 

[JohnD]

Are all of the EU population blind now? Can't they choose a suitable banana for themselves?

Do you know who came up with the classification, and what it's for?

 

[Brigadier]

Do you know who came up with the classification, and what it's for?

That is of no relevance to any of the quoted text.

 

[JohnD]

It was devised by the banana importers, wholesalers and retailers, so that they could order "20 tons of Class 1 bananas" and know what quality they were getting, or "20 tons of ungraded bananas" if they were going to mash them up for milkshakes so could accept cosmetic imperfections but not insects, disease or rotting.

It does not prevent people buying green, yellow or brown bananas, nor does it prevent them buying curved or straight.

There are grading standards for all sorts of things, including crude and refined oil, which enables them to be traded as commodities meeting a known and agreed standard.

Europhobes will be shocked and horrified that the EU standards are much the same as the previous UK standards for bananas.

Bernard will tell you more if you ask.

It's a story composed by that well-known author of humorous fiction, Buffoon Johnson.

"The standards themselves are pretty much directly copied over from the Codex Alimentarius, something under the general control of the Food and Agriculture Organization (part of the UN) and the World Health Organization (similarly). That, in turn is really a general collection of the various industry norms and standards used around the world. Thus, what we're calling Class 1, Extra and so on here with reference to bananas are the ways in which wholesalers, importers and so on of bananas have been marking their products over the decades."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/timwor...y-bananas-rules-yes-theyre-real/#4626df7b6fc9

 

[Brigadier]

^which matters to the person in the supermarket, how?

 

[JohnD]

What makes you think that it has an effect on the person in the supermarket?

 

[Notch7]

It's a story composed by that well-known author of humorous fiction, Buffoon Johnson.

I dont think Johnson composed the story, its been around for quite a few years

 

[JohnD]

So has Buffoon.

"...a victory achieved after a relentless campaign of lies and Soviet-style propaganda about the European Union that long pre-dated the referendum. Indeed, it was a campaign that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Boris Johnson, who had been fired by the Times for making up a quotation, was the Telegraph’s correspondent in Brussels.

"Johnson did not invent Euroscepticism but he took it to new levels. A brilliant caricaturist, he made his name by mocking, lampooning and ridiculing the EU. He wrote stories headlined “Brussels recruits sniffers to ensure that Euro-manure smells the same”, “Threat to British pink sausages” and “Snails are fish, says EU”. He wrote about plans to standardise condom sizes and ban prawn cocktail flavour crisps. He set up Jacques Delors, who was then the European Commission president, as a bogeyman and claimed credit for persuading Denmark to reject the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 with a Sunday Telegraph splash – “Delors plan to rule Europe” – that was seized on by the Nej campaign."

https://www.newstatesman.com/politi...-myths-and-our-disgraceful-press-followed-his

 

[Brigadier]

What makes you think that it has an effect on the person in the supermarket?

ANNEX I
Marketing standards for bananas
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to bananas of the varieties (cultivars) of Musa (AAA) spp., Cavendish and Gros Michel
subgroups, as well as hybrids, referred to in Annex IV, intended to be supplied fresh to the consumer after
preparation and packaging. Plantains, bananas intended for industrial processing and fig bananas are not covered.
II. QUALITY
This standard defines the quality requirements to be met by unripened green bananas after preparation and packaging.
A. Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the bananas must be:
— green and unripened,
— intact,


Etc etc.

"...intended to be supplied fresh to the consumer."

"..the bananas must be....."

 

[JohnD]

Are you under the impression that consumers are in some way prevented from buying ungraded bananas that do not fall into one of the quality standards?

 

[Notch7]

So has Buffoon.

"...a victory achieved after a relentless campaign of lies and Soviet-style propaganda about the European Union that long pre-dated the referendum. Indeed, it was a campaign that began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Boris Johnson, who had been fired by the Times for making up a quotation, was the Telegraph’s correspondent in Brussels.

"Johnson did not invent Euroscepticism but he took it to new levels. A brilliant caricaturist, he made his name by mocking, lampooning and ridiculing the EU. He wrote stories headlined “Brussels recruits sniffers to ensure that Euro-manure smells the same”, “Threat to British pink sausages” and “Snails are fish, says EU”. He wrote about plans to standardise condom sizes and ban prawn cocktail flavour crisps. He set up Jacques Delors, who was then the European Commission president, as a bogeyman and claimed credit for persuading Denmark to reject the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 with a Sunday Telegraph splash – “Delors plan to rule Europe” – that was seized on by the Nej campaign."

https://www.newstatesman.com/politi...-myths-and-our-disgraceful-press-followed-his

All very interesting, but no bananas mentioned so not relevant

 

[Notch7]

Another myth peddled by lying anti-Europeans, and believed by numbskulls.

Certainly a story peddled by Euro haters.

Not strictly a myth though, banana curvature is mentioned

 

[transam]

Another myth peddled by lying anti-Europeans, and believed by numbskulls.

I believe it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Brigadier]

No.
I am somewhat incredulous though, that what is self-evident is documented in such detail.

 

[IWalkLikeHimaMartian]

No doubt brigadier also believes Michael Gove's comments about EU preventing UK from introducing stricter animal welfare laws.

Brexit: Does the EU stop the UK improving animal welfare?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42340677