#0272* - UKIP Members Must Wonder If David BANNERMAN Has Lost The Plot!

#0272* - UKIP Members Must Wonder If David BANNERMAN Has Lost The Plot!
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Clean EUkip up NOW make UKIP electable! 
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The corruption of EUkip’s leadership, 

their anti UKIP claque in POWER & the NEC 

is what gives the remaining 10% a bad name!  
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UKIP Members Must Wonder If David BANANAMAN (Bannerman) Has Lost The Plot!
The Gravitas of his representation of UKIP's Racist EFD Chums has no relevance to Leave-The-EU!
The terms on which he was Dishonestly PUT in position!

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Hi,

It is good to see EFD Members addressing the weighty matters of The EU as ever - here, in keeping with UKIP policy UKIP field David Bananaman as the comedic turn for the day - another opportunity wasted as he fails to give consideration to any British aspect.

Presumably because, having been called as a Pan EU EFD Political Group spokesman he must consider the racism, anti Judaism, Holocaust deial and violent sexual intollerance of the Group he represents so he had best stick to his specialist subject as the EU Parliament clown.

Frankly WHO CARES - what relevance does this have top ensuring these United Kingdoms Leave-The-EU but it would seem UKIP lost sight of that aim and now almost 18 years later they still have absolutely no Exit and Survival Plan!

For the record I am sure you would wish to read the regulation so that you, like David Bananaman (makes a change from dressing up as a chicken!), can ensure YOUR banana meets with the regulations!

Community legislation in force

Document 394R2257

Directory chapters where this document can be found:

[ 03.60.54 - Fresh fruit and vegetables ]

394R2257

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2257/94 of 16 September 1994 laying down

quality standards for bananas (Text with EEA relevance)

Official Journal L 245 , 20/09/1994 p. 0006 - 0010

Finnish special edition....: Chapter 3 Volume 61 p. 52

Swedish special edition...: Chapter 3 Volume 61 p. 52

      Amendments:

      Amended by 396R1135 (OJ L 150 25.06.1996 p.38)

      Amended by 397R0386 (OJ L 060 01.03.1997 p.53)

      Text:

      COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2257/94 of 16 September 1994 laying down

      Quality standards for bananas (Text with EEA relevance)

      THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

      Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

      Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 of 13 February 1993 on

      the common organization of the market in bananas (1), as amended by

      Commission Regulation (EC) No 3518/93 (2), and in particular Article 4

      thereof,

      Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 makes provision for laying down common

      quality standards for bananas intended for consumption fresh, not

      including plantains; whereas the purpose of these standards is to ensure

      that the market is supplied with products of uniform and satisfactory

      quality, in particular in the case of bananas harvested in the Community,

      for which efforts to improve quality should be made;

      Whereas, given the wide range of varieties marketed in the Community and

      of marketing practices, minimum standards should be set for unripened

      green bananas, without prejudice to the later introduction of standards

      applicable at a different marketing stage; whereas the characteristics of

      fig bananas and the way in which they are marketed are such that they

      should not be covered by the Community standards;

      Whereas the banana-producing Member States already apply national

      standards within their territory at different stages in the marketing of

      bananas; whereas it seems appropriate, in view of the objectives pursued,

      to allow these existing rules to continue to apply to their own production

      but only at stages subsequent to unripened green bananas, provided those

      rules are not in conflict with the Community standards and do not impede

      the free circulation of bananas in the Community;

      Whereas account should be taken of the fact that, because climatic factors

      make production conditions difficult in the Community regions of Madeira,

      the Azores, the Algarve, Crete and Lakonia, bananas there do not develop

      to the minimum length laid down; whereas in these cases such bananas may

      still be marketed, but only in Class II;

      Whereas the Management Committee for Bananas has not delivered an opinion

      within the time limit set by its chairman,

      HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

      Article 1

      The quality standards applicable to bananas falling within CN code ex

      0803, excluding plantains, fig bananas and bananas intended for

      processing, are laid down in Annex I hereto.

      These standards shall apply to bananas originating in third countries at

      the stage of release for free circulation, to bananas originating in the

      Community at the stage of first landing at a Community port, and to

      bananas delivered fresh to the consumer in the producing region at the

      stage of leaving the packing shed.

      Article 2

      The standards laid down in Article 1 shall not affect the application, at

      later stages of marketing, of national rules which:

      - do not impede the free circulation of bananas originating in third

      countries or other regions of the Community and complying with the

      standards laid down in this Regulation,

      and

      - are not incompatible with the standards laid down in this Regulation.

      Article 3

      This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1995.

      This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable

      in all Member States.

      Done at Brussels, 16 September 1994.

      For the Commission

      René STEICHEN

      Member of the Commission

      (1) OJ No L 47, 25. 2. 1993, p. 1.

      (2) OJ No L 320, 22. 12. 1993, p. 15.

      ANNEX I

      QUALITY 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, referred to in Annex II,

      for supply 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,

      - 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.

      The physical development and ripeness of the bananas must be such as to

      enable them to:

      - withstand transport and handling,

      and

      - arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination in order to

      attain an appropriate degree of maturity after ripening.

      B. Classification

      Bananas are classified into the three classes defined below:

      (i) 'Extra' class

      Bananas in this class must be of superior quality. They must have the

      characteristics typical of the variety and/or commercial type.

      The fingers must be free from defects, apart from slight superficial

      blemishes not covering a total of more than 1 cm2 of the surface of the

      finger, which must not impair the general appearance of the hand or

      cluster, its quality, its keeping quality or the presentation of the

      package.

      (ii) Class I

      Bananas in this class must be of good quality. They must display the

      characteristics typical of the variety and/or commercial type.

      However, the following slight defects of the fingers are allowed, provided

      they do not impair the general appearance of each hand or cluster, its

      quality, its keeping quality or the presentation of the package:

      - slight defects in shape,

      - slight skin defects due to rubbing and other slight superficial

      blemishes not covering a total of more than 2 cm2 of the surface of the

      finger.

      Under no circumstances may such slight defects affect the flesh of the

      fruit.

      (iii) Class II

      This class covers bananas which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher

      classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

      The following defects of the fingers are allowed, provided the bananas

      retain their essential characteristics as regards quality, keeping quality

      and presentation:

      - defects of shape,

      - skin defects due to scraping, rubbing or other causes, provided that the

      total area affected does not cover more than 4 cm2 of the surface of the

      finger.

      Under no circumstances may the defects affect the flesh of the fruit.

      III. SIZING

      Sizing is determined by:

      - the length of the edible pulp of the fruit, expressed in centimetres and

      measured along the convex face from the blossom end to the base of the

      peduncle,

      - the grade, i.e. the measurement, in millimetres, of the thickness of a

      transverse section of the fruit between the lateral faces and the middle,

      perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

      The reference fruit for measurement of the length and grade is:

      - the median finger on the outer row of the hand,

      - the finger next to the cut sectioning the hand, on the outer row of the

      cluster.

      The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is

      27 mm.

      As an exception to the last paragraph, bananas produced in Madeira, the

      Azores, the Algarve, Crete and Lakonia which are less than 14 cm in length

      may be marketed in the Community but must be classified in Class II.

      IV. TOLERANCES

      Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed within each

      package in respect of produce not satisfying the requirements of the class

      indicated.

      A. Quality tolerances

      (i) 'Extra' class

      5 % by number or weight of bananas not satisfying the requirements for the

      'extra' class but meeting those for Class I, or, exceptionally, coming

      within the tolerances for that class.

      (ii) Class I

      10 % by number or weight of bananas not satisfying the requirements of

      Class I but meeting those for Class II, or, exceptionally, coming within

      the tolerances for that class.

      (iii) Class II

      10 % by number or weight of bananas satisfying neither the requirements

      for Class II nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of produce

      affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for

      consumption.

      B. Size tolerances

      For all classes, 10 % by number of bananas not satisfying the sizing

      characteristics, up to a limit of 1 cm for the minimum length of 14 cm.

      V. PRESENTATION

      A. Uniformity

      The contents of each package must be uniform and consist exclusively of

      bananas of the same origin, variety and/or commercial type, and quality.

      The visible part of the contents of each package must be representative of

      the entire contents.

      B. Packaging

      The bananas must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce

      properly.

      The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a nature

      such as to avoid causing any external or internal deterioration of the

      produce. The use of materials such as, in particular, wrapping papers or

      adhesive labels bearing commercial indications is allowed provided that

      the printing and labelling is done with a non-toxic ink or glue.

      Packages must be free from any foreign matter.

      C. Presentation

      The bananas must be presented in hands or clusters (parts of hands) of at

      least four fingers.

      Clusters with not more than two missing fingers are allowed, provided that

      the stalk is not torn but cleanly cut, without damage to the neighbouring

      fingers.

      Not more than one cluster of three fingers with the same characteristics

      as the other fruit in the package may be present per row.

      In the producing regions, bananas may be marketed by the stem.

      VI. MARKING

      Each package must bear the following particulars in writing, all on the

      same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside:

      A. Identification

      B. Nature of produce

      - The word 'Bananas' where the contents are not visible from the outside,

      - the name of the variety or commercial type.

      C. Origin of the product

      Country of origin and, in the case of Community produce:

      - production area, and

      - (optionally) national, regional or local name.

      D. Commercial specifications

      - Class,

      - net weight,

      - size, expressed as minimum length and, optionally, as maximum length.

      E. Official control mark (optional).

      ANNEX II

      List of the main groups, sub-groups and cultivars of dessert bananas

      marketed in the Community >>>> ID="1">AA> ID="2">Sweet fig> ID="3">Sweet

      fig, Pisang Mas, Amas Datil, Bocadillo>>> ID="1">AB> ID="2">Ney-Poovan>

      ID="3">Ney Poovan, Safet Velchi>>> ID="1">AAA> ID="2">Cavendish>

      ID="3">Dwarf Cavendish>>> ID="3">Giant Cavendish>>> ID="3">Lacatan>>>

      ID="3">Poyo (Robusta)>>> ID="3">Williams>>> ID="3">Americani>>>

      ID="3">Valery>>> ID="3">Arvis>>> ID="2">Gros Michel> ID="3">Gros Michel

      ('Big Mike')>>> ID="3">Highgate>>> ID="2">Pink fig> ID="3">Figue Rose>>>

      ID="3">Figue Rose Verte>>> ID="2">Ibota>>> ID="1">AAB> ID="2">Fig apple>

      ID="3">Fig apple, Silk>>> ID="2">Pome (Prata)> ID="3">Pacovan>>>

      ID="3">Prata Ana>>> ID="2">Mysore> ID="3">Mysore, Pisang Ceylan, Gorolo>>>

      End of the document

YES there really are people wasting YOUR money inventing ‘stuff’ like this – in fact they write similar regulations on every subject imaginable. The aim would seem, quite obviously, to provide jobs for cronies within the EU’s bureaucracy at the expense of freedom, choice and entrepreneurial spirit.

So far the regulations in the English language alone run to 186,000 pages!! Interpretation of these regulations provides endless work for useless lawyers, apparatchiks and the like ensuring the demise of more and more real industries and more and more jobs.

To NO GAIN the bureaucracy of the EU grows almost exponentially and yet it is now many years since they were able to have their accounts signed off by THEIR OWN auditors. 4 – 6 Billion Pounds go missing within the EU’s administration every single year like clockwork – despite their insistence on tighter and tighter administration of people who do real work to earn the taxes the EU squanders.

Here is the text of the new accord outlined:

MEPs approve controversial banana deal

VALENTINA POP

03.02.2011 @ 18:22 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS -
The European Parliament on Thursday (3 February) approved a tariff deal between the EU and Latin American banana producers, marking the end of a 16-year long trade war. MEPs also urged the bloc to boost its compensation aid to the 10 former European colonies in Africa and the Caribbean (ACP) which stand to lose from the deal.

Banana growers are keen on exporting tariff-free to the EU (Photo: Banana Link)

Under the new accord, the EU is set to lower import tariffs on bananas from Latin American countries from €176 per tonne to €114 in 2017, narrowing somewhat the gap with producers from former EU colonies, who are currently exempt from paying tariffs.

In parallel, the bloc is expected to boost its aid to the 10 ACP states - Belize, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

The countries are getting €200 million in aid in the 2010 to 2014 period. But MEPs want this to be topped up and extended to 2020 to help them to diversify their economies.

French Green MEP Catherine Greze, who had voted against the deal, said that the agreement was a "blow to developing countries and small banana producers" that will benefit big fruit exporters such as US giant Chiquita.

Banana producers from the EU's overseas territories in the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, Madeira and Martinique also slammed the EU deal.

"We regret that the end of hostilities, which was the main advantage meant to result from the Geneva agreement on bananas, has been challenged by new concessions that are unjustified and benefit only the multinationals," the Association of European Banana Producers (APEB), representing 15,000 small farmers, said in a statement.

The Geneva agreement - a WTO-sponsored deal in 2009 between the US, the EU and Latin American banana-producing states - ended a 16-year-long international trade dispute and latest paved the way for the latest EU agreement.

In the meantime, some Latino producers, such as Colombia and Peru, have negotiated tariffs well below the €114 line with individual EU countries on a bilateral basis. Brazil is angling for 200,000 tonnes' worth of zero tariff bananas. But, others, like Ecuador and Guatemala, had held out for the EU-wide deal, complicating the picture, and breeding resentment.

"Contrary to what the EU Commission claims, the Geneva agreement doesn't put an end to the banana war" the APEB producers noted.

The EU is the world's largest banana market and more then 70 percent of the yellow fruit sold in the EU comes from Latin America - mainly Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama.

Around 20 percent of bananas originate in former colonies Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Belize and Surinam. The rest are grown on EU territories: Cyprus, Greece, Madeira, Canary Islands and French overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

The "banana trade war" began in 1993 when the EU established a preferential policy for imports from former British and French colonies, but earlier tensions date back as far as the 1970s.

The importance of the banana trade in Latin American history is clear to see in Guatemala. A 1954 coup d'etat in the country - broadly supported by the United Fruit Company (nowadays known as Chiquita) - plunged it into a 40-year period of dictatorships and civil war, costing the lives of over 200,000 citizens.

To view The original of this article CLICK HERE

Regards,

Greg Lance - Watkins

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Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com