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European Parliament prevents 'potty' ruling
July 3, 2003 12:00 AM
UK flowerpots are set to gain a new status after MEPs acted to correct a costly British blunder that has piled unnecessary charges on nurseries and garden centres.
A surprise judgement by the High Court in January 2001 led to Britain being the only country in Europe to define flowerpots as packaging. This meant they fell within the scope of the EU packaging directive intended to encourage the recycling of waste materials, imposing administrative headaches and costly calculations on retailers.
But British flowerpots are now set to regain a normal existence like their continental counterparts after the European Parliament adopted a Liberal Democrat amendment to EU packaging law. It makes clear that materials accompanying products throughout their life are excluded.
LibDem MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford said:
"Cellophane wrapping around a bunch of flowers is clearly packaging, but a flowerpot is an integral part of the product, and that's what we're making clear in the revised recycling law which specifically excludes flowerpots."
"Those who blame the EU for every inconvenience will have to think again since no other country in Europe has had this difficulty. It has been a 'home grown' British problem from the very start - but now EU law is solving it!"
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