Roadside sellers of fresh strawberries and other perishable fruit and vegetables will not need a licence to sell their produce during the summer months, following changes in the casual trading regulations.
The new regulations, effective from May 1st, were introduced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, at the weekend, and effectively remove perishable fruits and vegetables from the scope of the Casual Trading Act 1995.
It means sellers of perishable fruit and vegetables will be able to conduct business without the requirement to obtain a casual trading licence.
The period of the exemption will be from May 1st to September 30th and will be restricted to growers and their agents.
In a statement issued yesterday, Ms Harney said: "The existing regulatory process under the Casual Trading Act is not suited to an activity which is concentrated in a specific period of the year.
"Perishable produce are very dependent on factors such as the weather, with the result that surpluses can arise very quickly, and it is not always possible to sell this produce through normal retail channels."
The fruits and vegetables covered by the exemption are strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, blackberries, loganberries, tayberries and currants and potatoes having loose skins and which have been harvested prior to maturity.
The Tánaiste said the exemption for the selling of these produce from detailed regulation will be "good for the consumer who will have greater access to fresh produce. Growers and producers will also benefit from the removal of this regulatory burden."
The move will be welcomed by fruit and veg growers, many of whom felt there were inconsistencies in the enactment of the regulations heretofore.The new regulations are timely, in that May 1st traditionally marks the start of summer. The regulations are entitled: Casual Trading Act 1995 (s2(3)) Regulations 2004.