参考译文
In the European Union, carrots must be firm but not woody, cucumbers must not be too curved and celery has to be free of any type of cavity. This was the law, one that banned overly curved, extra-knobbly or oddly shaped produce from supermarket shelves.
在欧盟，市场出售的胡萝卜必须脆而不糠，黄瓜也不能太弯，芹菜一点空心都不能有。因为过去法规禁止超市出售外形过弯、疙疙瘩瘩或者外形奇怪的农产品。
But in a victory for opponents of European regulation, 100 pages of legislation determining the size, shape and texture of fruit and vegetables have been torn up. On Wednesday, EU officials agreed to axe rules laying down standards for 26 products, from peas to plums.
但是最终反对这条欧盟法规的人士取得了胜利，这意味着约100页规定果蔬尺寸、外形和质地的相关法规得以废除。周三，欧盟有关领导人同意废除对部分农产品的强制性标准，范围涉及豌豆、李子等26个品种。
In doing so, the authorities hope they have killed off regulations routinely used by critics - most notably in the British media - to ridicule the meddling tendencies of the EU.
以英国媒体为首，各界批评家常就这一法规对欧盟动辄插手干涉的作风冷嘲热讽。有关部门希望此举能息事宁人/ 正是基于这一现状促使有关部门将其废除。
With the cost of the weekly supermarket visit on the rise, it has become increasingly hard to defend the act of throwing away food just because it looks strange.
老百姓去超市购物的花费每周都在上涨，在这种情况下，就因为蔬菜水果长得不够标准就扔掉，实在说不过去。
Beginning in July next year, when the changes go into force, standards on the 26 products will disappear altogether. Shoppers will then be able to chose their produce whatever its appearance.
明年七月开始，这些法规将被正式废除。届时，26种产品的标准将会一齐消失。消费者将能够随心所欲地挑选商品，无论它们的摸样是好是坏。
Under a compromise reached with national governments, many of which opposed the changes, standards will remain for 10 types of fruit and vegetables, including apples, citrus fruit, peaches, pears, strawberries and tomatoes.
因为不少欧盟国家政府反对废除这一法规。作为妥协，包括苹果、柑橘类、桃子、梨、草莓和番茄等10种蔬菜水果的相关标准将予以保留。
But those in this category that do not meet European norms will still be allowed onto the market, providing they are marked as being substandard or intended for cooking or processing.
不过就算上述这类果蔬达不到欧盟的标准，只要注明非达标产品或专为烹饪及加工使用，仍然允许其上市销售。
"This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot," said Mariann Fischer Boel, European commissioner for agriculture, who argued that regulations were better left to market operators.
欧盟委员会农业委员玛丽安•菲舍尔•伯尔表示：“这标志着弯黄瓜和坑坑洼洼的胡萝卜能重回市场了”，并提倡这类法规应由市场上的经营者说了算。
"In these days of high food prices and general economic difficulties," Fischer Boel added, "consumers should be able to choose from the widest range of products possible. It makes no sense to throw perfectly good products away, just because they are the ’wrong’ shape." |
