Commission Regulation (EC) No 907/2004 of 29 April 2004 amending the marketing standards applicable for fresh fruit and vegetables with regards to presentation and labelling
Date: 2004-04-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consumer information, fresh fruit, fresh vegetable, labelling, marketing standard, packaging

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 907/2004

of 29 April 2004

amending the marketing standards applicable for fresh fruit and vegetables with regards to presen-
tation and labelling

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28
October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in
fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Articles 2(2),

In addition, it shall be possible to label pre-packages, as
defined in annex IV, point 1, item l) of Regulation (EC)
No 1148/2001, with the name of the seller instead of
that of the packer and/or the shipper, in particular to be
more in line with the provisions applicable to all pre-
packed food stuffs as defined by Directive 2000/13/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20
March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs (3), provided that the particulars
placed on the pre-package allow easily to know the
packer and/or the shipper.

Whereas:

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of
the Management
Committee for fresh fruit and vegetables,

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables estab-
lished according to Article 2 of regulation (EC) No
2200/96 lay down provisions concerning the presenta-
tion of products in the package and stipulate that all
packages shall be labelled with all
the information
required with regard to identification of the packer or of
the dispatcher, the nature of produce,
its origin and
commercial specifications.

It is common practice in the sector to affix stickers indi-
vidually on fruits
for publicity purposes or other
purposes. The development of such practice for the
most delicate ones makes it necessary to adopt rules
aiming at avoiding products are damaged by the stickers.

Recent trends in the fruit and vegetables sector show in
particular the preparation, more and more frequently in
the region of production itself, of sales packages, as
defined in Annex IV, part 1,
item l) of Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1148/2001 of 12 June 2001 on
checks on conformity to the marketing standards applic-
able to fresh fruit and vegetables (2). Often, when this
happens, goods are then shipped to the consuming
markets in re-usable transport packages.

transport packages

In order to take this practice into account, and in par-
ticular to avoid risks of confusion when labels of re-
usable
transport
packages should be exempted from the labelling of the
the marketing standards,
information required by
provided however
sales packages are correctly
labelled and visible. In the case, transport packages are
palletised, the pallet should be marked.

changed,

that

are

(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. Regulation last amended by Commis-

sion Regulation (EC) No 47/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 64.)

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In title V (Provisions concerning presentation), point B (Packa-
ging), of the Annexes of the Regulations in Annex I to the
present Regulation and in title V (Provisions concerning presen-
tation), point C (Packaging), of the Annexes of the Regulations
in Annexes II to the present Regulation, the following sub-
paragraph is added:

‘Stickers individually affixed on product shall be such as,
when removed, neither to leave visible traces of glue, nor
to lead to skin defects.’

Article 2

At the end of title VI (Provisions concerning labelling) of the
Annexes of the Regulations in Annexes III to the present Regu-
lation and in title VI (Provisions concerning labelling), at the
end of item 1, of the Annexes of the Regulations in Annexes IV
to the present Regulation, the following subparagraph is added:

‘Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the
first
subparagraph, when they contain sales packages,
clearly visible from the outside, and all bearing these parti-
culars. These packages shall be free from any indications
such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised,
the particulars shall be given on a notice placed in an
obvious position on at least two sides of the pallet.’

(2) OJ L 156, 13.6.2001, p. 9. Regulation last amended by Regulation

(3) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29. Directive last amended by Directive

(EC) No 408/2003 (OJ L 62, 6.3.2003, p. 8.)

2003/89/EC (OJ L 308, 25.11.2003, p. 15.)

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Article 3

In title VI (Provisions concerning labelling), of the Annexes of
the Regulations in Annex III and in title VI
(Provisions
concerning labelling), item 1, of the Annexes of the Regulations
in Annex IV to the present Regulation, point A is replaced by
the following text:

‘A. Identification

The name and the address of the packer and/or the
dispatcher

This mention may be replaced:

— for all packages with the exception of pre-packages,
by the officially issued or accepted code mark
representing the packer and/or the dispatcher, indi-
cated in close connection with the reference “Packer
and/or Dispatcher” (or equivalent abbreviations);

— for pre-packages only, by the name and the address
of a seller established within the Community indi-
cated in close connection with the mention “Packed
for:” or an equivalent mention. In this case, the
labelling shall also include a code representing the
packer and/or the dispatcher. The seller shall give
all information deemed necessary by the inspection
body as to the meaning of this code.’

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth 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, 29 April 2004.

For the Commission

Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX I

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1292/81 (1)

Annexes I, II and IV to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1591/87 (2)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1677/88 (3)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 410/90 (4)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/97 (5)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1093/97 (6)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2288/97 (7)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 963/98 (8)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1168/1999 (9)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999 (10)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2335/1999 (11)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2561/1999 (12)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999 (13)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 790/2000 (14)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 851/2000 (15)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 175/2001 (16)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 912/2001 (17)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1508/2001 (18)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1543/2001 (19)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1615/2001 (20)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1799/2001 (21)

(1) OJ L 129, 15.5.1981, p. 38. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1757/2003 (OJ L 252, 4.10.2003, p. 11.)
(2) OJ L 146, 6.6.1987, p. 36. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(3) OJ L 150, 16.6.1988, p. 21. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(4) OJ L 43, 17.2.1990, p. 22. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(5) OJ L 119, 8.5.1997, p. 13. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(6) OJ L 158, 17.6.1997, p. 21. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(7) OJ L 315, 19.11.1997, p. 3. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(8) OJ L 135, 8.5.1998, p. 18. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1466/2003 (OJ L 210, 20.8.2003, p. 6.)
(9) OJ L 141, 4.6.1999, p. 5. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(10) OJ L 167, 2.7.1999, p. 22. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(11) OJ L 281, 4.11.1999, p. 11. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 582/2003 (OJ L 83, 1.4.2003, p. 37.)
(12) OJ L 310, 4.12.1999, p. 7. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(13) OJ L 336, 29.12.1999, p. 13. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(14) OJ L 95, 15.4.2000, p. 24. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(15) OJ L 103, 28.4.2000, p. 22. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(16) OJ L 26, 27.1.2001, p. 24. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 80/2003 (OJ L 13, 18.1.2003, p. 5.)
(17) OJ L 129, 11.5.2001, p. 4. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(18) OJ L 200, 25.7.2001, p. 14. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1465/2003 (OJ L 210, 20.8.2003, p. 4.)
(19) OJ L 203, 28.7.2001, p. 9. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(20) OJ L 214, 8.8.2001, p. 21. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(21) OJ L 244, 14.9.2001, p. 12. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2173/2003 (OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 10.)

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Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2396/2001 (22)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 843/2002 (23)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 982/2002 (24)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1284/2002 (25)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1466/2003 (26)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1757/2003 (27)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 85/2004 (28)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 86/2004 (29)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 214/2004 (30)

(22) OJ L 325, 8.12.2001, p. 11. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(23) OJ L 134, 22.5.2002, p. 24. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(24) OJ L 150, 8.6.2002, p.45. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(25) OJ L 187, 16.7.2002, p. 14. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(26) OJ L 210, 20.8.2003, p. 6.
(27) OJ L 252, 4.10.2003, p. 11.
(28) OJ L 13, 20.1.2004, p. 3.
(29) OJ L 13, 20.1.2004, p. 19.
(30) OJ L 36, 7.2.2004, p. 6.

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ANNEX II

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2213/83 (1)

Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1591/87

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 730/1999 (2)

Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999 (3)

(1) OJ L 213, 4.8.1983, p. 13. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(2) OJ L 93, 8.4.1999, p. 14. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)
(3) OJ L 287, 10.11.1999, p. 6. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 61.)

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ANNEX III

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1292/81

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2213/83

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 851/2000

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 175/2001

Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 1591/87

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 912/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1677/88

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 410/90

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 831/97

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1093/97

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2288/97

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 963/98

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1508/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1543/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1615/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1799/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2396/2001

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 843/2002

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1168/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 982/2002

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1284/2002

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2335/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1466/2003

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2377/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1757/2003

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2561/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 85/2004

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 86/2004

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 790/2000

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 214/2004

Annexes I to Regulation (EC) No 1591/87

Annex to Regulation (EC) No 730/1999

ANNEX IV