EN   EN 
 
 
 EUROPEAN  
COMMISSION   
Brussels, XXX   
[…](2021) XXX  draft  
 
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...  
of XXX  
amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 as regards marketing standards 
in the fruit and vegetables sector   EN 1  EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  
1. CONTEXT  OF THE  DELEGATED  ACT  
The purpose of this delegated act is to lay down rules amending the existing marketing 
standards in line with amendments adopted in the quality standards of the United Nations 
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In order to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade, 
the specific standards for apples , pears , sweet peppers and table grapes shoul d be aligned with 
the UNECE standards.  
The adoption of this delegated act does not entail financial implications.  
2. CONSULTATIONS  PRIOR  TO THE  ADOPTION  OF THE  ACT  
Consultations, involving experts from all the 27 Member States, have been carried within the  
Experts Group for Agricultural Markets established under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, in 
particular concerning aspects falling under the single CMO regulation – Horticultural 
products held on 23 March 2021 where a draft text was presented and agreed. The  draft 
version of the present act was transmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council when 
convening the Experts Group meetings.  
3. LEGAL  ELEMENTS  OF THE  DELEGATED  ACT  
The delegated act amends Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2011 as regards 
specific marketing standards for apples,  pears,  sweet peppers and table grapes.  EN 2  EN COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...  
of XXX  
amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 as regards marketing standards 
in the fruit and vegetables sector  
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,  
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , 
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in 
agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, 
(EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/20071, and in particular Article 75(2) thereof , 
Whereas:  
(1) Annex I  of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/20112 lays down  
detailed rules on marketing standards for fruit and vegetables . 
(2) From 2018 to 2020 the Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards of the United 
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (U NECE) revised the UNECE standards 
for sweet peppers (2018 & 2020), table grapes (2019 & 2020) , apples  and pears  
(2020). In order to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade, the general and specific 
marketing standards for those fruits and vegetables provided f or in Implementing 
Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 should be aligned with the new UNECE standards.  
(3) Considering that those revised UNECE standards were successfully submitted to the 
approval of the Member States according to the procedure laid down in the Counc il 
Decision (EU) 2017/2104 of 6 November 2017 on the position to be taken on behalf of 
the European Union within the UNECE — Working Party on Agricultural Quality 
Standards (UNECE -WP.7)3. 
(4) Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly , 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  
Article 1  
Amendment of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011  
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 is amended as follows:  
(1) Annex I is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.  
                                                 
1 OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671.  
2 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 of 7 June 2011 laying down detailed rules for 
the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 in respect of the fruit and vegetables and 
processed fruit and vegetables sectors (OJ L 157, 15.6.2011, p. 1).  
3 Council Decision (EU) 2017/2104 of 6 November 2017 on the position to be taken on behalf of the 
European Union within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe — Working Party on 
Agricultural Quality Standards (UNECE -WP.7) concerning proposals on quality standards for fruit and 
vegetables  (OJ L 303, 18.11.2017, p. 1).  EN 3  EN Article  2 
Entry into force  
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.  
Done at Brussels ,  
 For the Commission  
 The President  
 Ursula VON DER LEYEN