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 encourage major supermarket chains to stop using plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables.

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations already require all retailers to ensure that all their packaging does not exceed what is needed to make sure the products are safe, hygienic and acceptable for both the packed product and for the consumer. As part of the Resources and Waste Strategy, we have committed to review the effectiveness of these regulations by the end of next year.

We are also consulting on reforms to the way we manage packaging waste. We have set out in our consultation options for how we want to enhance the incentive for producers to make better packaging design choices.

Plastic packaging for some fruit and vegetables can extend their shelf life, which can help to reduce food waste.