Knobbly fruit and amusingly shaped vegetables, the staple diet of local newspapers, caption competitions and That's Life!, are set to return to the shops in a reprieve from strict European Union laws.

The regulations covering the size and shape of 26 types of fruit and vegetable are expected to be abolished today by EU agriculture officials in a move that should make food cheaper and more fun. It will reduce the waste caused by an estimated 20 per cent of farm produce - such as curvy cucumbers or crooked carrots - being rejected for not meeting EU standards and should bring prices down at a time when household budgets are under heightened pressure.

The rules will remain in place in ten cases, including apples, pears, citrus fruit, strawberries and tomatoes - items representing three quarters of all fruit and vegetables sold in the EU.

Pears, for example, will still fail to qualify as Class 1 if more than 1cm2 of their total surface area suffers a slight skin defect.

However, fruit and vegetables classified as “imperfect” are likely to be made available provided they are sold separately from their perfect peers and labelled “product intended for processing”, or with a similar wording.

The deregulation was proposed by Mariann Fischer Boel, the EU Agriculture Commissioner - and herself a farmer - but the vote will be a close call owing to opposition from France, Italy, Spain and Greece. It is expected to pass now that Germany has swung behind the move, which was supported strongly by Hilary Benn, the Rural Affairs Secretary.

“I think a large dose of common sense is required here,” Mr Benn told The Times. “Frankly, if shops want to sell, and consumers want to buy, funny-shaped carrots and turnips then I do not really see what the problem is.”

The EU's criteria, which have long provided fodder for critics of “barmy Brussels”, go into astounding detail. They dictate that a Class1 green asparagus must be green for 80 per cent of its length, Class 1 cucumbers should not be bent by a curve of more than 10mm per 10cm, and a string of onions must have 16 onions to qualify.

Despite the fashion for baby vegetables, it is illegal to sell a cauliflower that is less than 11cm in diameter. A small carrot must weigh at least 8g, while a large one must weigh 50g or measure 20mm in diameter.

Farmers, growers and supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are backing the repeal of the rules, but shoppers will not start to see the odd-shaped vegetables until July.

Lucy Maclennan, category product manager for vegetables at Sainsbury's, said: “Ideally, we would like to see all 36 rules removed and for them to be removed now rather than next summer.” One branch of Sainsbury's had planned to sell “zombie brain” cauliflowers and “witches' fingers” carrots for Hallowe'en this year until it found out that individual managers could face prosecution.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, which champions organic produce, said that his own organic carrots grown in the hills of west Wales were rejected by Sainsbury's for being “too wonky” two years ago.

“This will be a fantastic step, especially for organic growers,” he said. “We are about inner quality, not outer appearance.”

The promotion of cheaper fruit and vegetables is also regarded as an attempt to tackle the obesity crisis and will allow poorer households the chance to meet the recommended “five a day” portions of fruit and vegetables.

There is one product that will not escape EU regulation. Bananas will remain subject to a different set of rules which stipulate, among other things, that they must be at least 14cm long and 27mm thick in the middle.

What sprouts in Brussels

— EU rules will be scrapped for apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocados, beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflowers, cherries, chicory, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery, spinach, walnuts in shell and watermelons

— Still regulated and sold with warnings: apples, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, lettuces, peaches and nectarines, pears, strawberries, sweet peppers, table grapes and tomatoes

— Pears, for example, are classified in the Official Journal of the European Union Commission Regulation (EC) No 86/2004 of January 15, 2004, as either Extra, Class I or Class II. Size is determined by maximum diameter of the equatorial section

— Extra Class pears must be superior quality and a minimum of 60mm if a large fruited variety, or 55mm other varieties. In shape, size and colouring they must be characteristic of the variety and the stalk must be intact. The flesh must be perfectly sound, and the skin free from rough russeting. They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided these do not affect the general appearance, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package. Pears must not be gritty

— Class I pears, at least 55mm or 50mm long, are allowed slight skin defects that do not affect general appearance. Can be up to 2cm long for defects of elongated shape

— Class II pears, measuring a minimum of 55mm/45mm, must be free from major defects and skin defects covering more than 2.5 cm2

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