Crates mandatory for Fruits & Vegies transport
- Details
The aim of this decision is to maintain the quality of goods while minimizing the wastage of fruits and vegetables in transit by about 40%.
Although on March 1 a gazette notification was issued introducing the new system of transporting vegetables and fruits, it was not implemented properly due to complaints received from farmers who said the new system is too costly and cannot afford plastic crates for transporting of perishable goods.
However Minister Johnston Fernando said that under the first phase an awareness programmes will be carried out on using these plastic crates for the transportation of fruits and vegetables and a study would also be carried out to determine if the crates are being used properly.
The Minister further added that under the second phase, the Consumer Affairs Authority has been instructed to conduct raids to detect the non use of these crates.
