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Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)

Regulations

Regulations relating to the Grading, Packing and Marking of Fresh Vegetables intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa

Part II : Specific Regulations for Fresh Vegetables

10. Carrots

 

The regulations for carrots of the varieties (cultivars) grown of Daucus carota L., are as follows:

 

Quality standards

 

(1) Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class carrots in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 8, carrots shall —
(a) be intact;
(b) be free from decay;
(c) be clean and free from foreign matter, including soil;
(d) be free from Arthropoda infestation;
(e) be free from insect damage or damage caused by other organisms;
(f) be free from blemishes;
(g) be free from cracks;
(h) be free from injuries;
(i) be free from bruises;
(j) be free from abnormal external moisture;
(k) not be running to seed;
(I) be free from foreign odours;
(m) be free from cold damage;
(n) be free from sun-scorch;
(o) be fresh and firm and show no sign of withering
(p) not be malformed or forked or have secondary roots;
(q) not be woody;
(r) be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the carrots detrimentally;
(s) have fresh, green and sound foliage not longer than 50 mm: Provided that if topped, it must be evened off or cut off at the top of the root, without damaging it;
(t) be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and
(u) be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling.

 

Classifications

 

(2)
(a) Carrots classified as Class 1—
(i) shall be of a colour typical of the cultivar: Provided that the tops of the carrots may ;
(aa) have a purple or green discolouration of 10 mm in the case of carrots 80 mm and shorter; or
(bb) have a purple or green discolouration of 20 mm in the case of carrots longer than 80 mm;
(ii) may have one or more cracks which separately or collectively do not exceed—
(aa) 10 mm in length and 2 mm in depth in the case of carrots 80 mm or shorter; and
(bb) 20 mm in length and 2 mm in depth in the case of carrots longer than 80 mm.
(iii) may have slight defects in shape; and
(iv) the roots must be of fresh appearance.
(b) Carrots classified as Class 2 and Class 3 ;
(i) shall be of a colour typical of the cultivar: Provided that the tops of the carrots may ;
(aa) have a purple or green discolouration of 20 mm in the case of carrots 100 mm or shorter; or
(bb) have a purple or green discolouration of 30 mm in the case of carrots longer than 100 mm; and
(ii) may have one or more cracks which separately or collectively do not exceed 30 mm in length and 3 mm in depth;
(iii) defects in shape.
(c) In the case of Lowest Class - unspecified.

 

Packing and sorting requirements

 

(3) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 carrots may be packed ;
(a) without foliage; or
(b) with foliage: Provided that the foliage shall be fresh.

 

(4) Carrots shall be packed and sorted according to ;
(a) the diameter of the carrot measured at the stem;
(b) the mass of a carrot packed without foliage; or
(c) the length of the carrot in the case of miniature carrots.

 

(5) In the case of carrots, other than miniature, early carrots and small root varieties ;
(a) the minimum and maximum diameter for Class 1 carrots is 20 mm and 45 mm respectively;
(b) the maximum difference in diameter between the smallest and the largest Class 1 carrot in the same packing shall not exceed 20 mm;
(c) the minimum and maximum mass for Class 1 carrots is 50 g and 200 g respectively;
(d) the maximum difference in mass between the lightest and the heaviest Class 1 carrot in the same packing shall not exceed 150 g;
(e) carrots classified as Class 2 and Class 3 shall comply with the minimum packing and sorting requirements,and
(f) In the case of Lowest Class carrots - unspecified.

 

(6) In the case of early carrots and small root varieties—
(a) the minimum and maximum diameter of early carrots is 10 mm and 40 mm respectively; and
(b) the minimum and maximum mass of early carrots is 8 g and 150 g respectively.

 

(7) In the case of miniature carrots the carrot may not exceed 120 mm in length.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards

 

(8)
(a) Class 1 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 by a maximum of 10% by mass or number in case of bunched carrots and an additional 10% by mass or number in case of bunched carrots may show a discolouration green or violet purple on the top: Provided that the carrots ;
(i) at least comply with the quality standards for Class 2; and
(ii) do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 2%
- injuries: 6%
- Arthropoda infestation: Degree as set out in regulation 4(4)(c); Part 1.
(b) Class 2 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 by a maximum of 15% by mass and an additional 25% by mass broken carrots and carrots with broken tips are permissible: Provided that the carrots ;
(i ) do not exceed the following individual limits, excluding carrots that are broken or have tips that are broken off:
- decay: 4%
- injuries: 8%
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1.
(c) Class 3 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 3 by 25% by mass and an additional 25% by mass of broken carrots are permissible: Provided that the carrots ;
(i) are not affected by decay; and
(ii) do not exceed the following individual limits, excluding carrots that are broken or have tips that are broken off:
- decay: 6%
- injuries:10%
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1.
(d) In the case of Lowest Class- decay shall not not exceed 20% by mass or number.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements

 

(9) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 carrots may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements set out in regulations (4) to (7), with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by mass or number.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to colour variations

 

(10) Class 1 and Class 2 carrots may deviate from the colour variations requirements, set out in subregulations 1 and 2, with 20% and 25% respectively by mass or number. Class 3 and Lowest Class are unspecified.

 

Marking requirements

 

(11) Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part 1 each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class carrots are packed, shall be marked with—
(a) the minimum and maximum diameter or mass per carrot, where applicable;
(b) the expressions "bunched carrots" or "carrots" and "early carrots" or "main-crop carrots", if the contents are not visible from the outside;
(c) the variety - optional;
(d) the number of bunches in the case of bunched carrots; and
(e) the expression "mini carrots" or "baby carrots" or other appropriate term for miniature produce, where appropriate: Provided that where several types of miniature produce are mixed in the same package, all products shall be mentioned.