Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure clear labelling of (a) locally produced fruit and vegetables and (b) imported produce.

The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. This applies equally to food that is domestically produced or imported.

The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions.

Country of origin information is compulsory for most uncut fresh fruit and vegetables. In any case, where an indication of origin or provenance is given, either in words or pictures, this must be accurate. Buying food locally and supporting their local food economy is important to many consumers and where any label indicates that a food is produced locally, this must not be misleading to a consumer.

Shops and supermarkets will often use in-store signs to help shoppers easily identify and buy great British produce and this too is subject to the food labelling rules.