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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

15. Courgettes (Baby Marrows)

 

The regulations for courgettes(baby marrows) of the varieties (cultivars) of Cucurbita pepo L., are as follows:

 

Quality standards

 

(1) Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class courgettes in subregulation 3 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 5, each courgette 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 cavities;
(h) be free from cracks;
(j) be free from injuries;
(j) be free from overdeveloped seeds;
(k) be free from bruises;
(I) be free from splits;
(m) be free from abnormal external moisture;
(n) be free from foreign odours;
(o) be free from cold damage;
(p) be free from sun-scorch;
(q) be free from any other factors that detrimentally affect or may affect the quality of the courgettes;
(r) be fresh and show no sign of withering;
(s) be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and
(t) be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling.

 

(2) The stalk of the courgette shall not be longer than 20 mm.

 

Classifications

 

(3)
(a) Class 1 courgettes shall ;
(i) be well-formed;
(ii) be practically straight;
(iii) have a maximum arc height of not more than 10 mm per 100 mm of the length of the courgette;
(iv) if present, have slight colour defects; and
(v) if present, have slight, healed cracks on the skin.
(b) Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes shall ;
(i) be well-formed;
(ii) be reasonably straight;
(iii) have a maximum arc height of not more than 25 mm per 100 mm of the length of the courgette;
(iv) have slight colour defects;
(v) if present, have slight sun-scorch; and
(vi) if present, have healed cracks on the skin.
(c) In the case of Lower Class courgettes - unspecified.

 

Packing and sorting requirements

 

(4)
(a) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes shall be packed according to length or mass.
(b) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes shall be packed according to the following lengths (measured between the junction of the stalk and the end of the courgette):
(i) 70 mm to 140 mm,
(ii) more than 140 mm to 210 mm,
(iii) more than 210 mm to 300 mm.
(c) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes shall be packed according to the following masses:
(i) 101 g and more,
(ii) 71 g to 100 g,
(iii) 50 g to 70 g,

 

Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards

 

(5)
(a) Class 1 courgettes may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 by not more than 10% by number or by mass: Provided that the deviating courgettes ;
(i) at least comply with quality standards for Class 2; and
(ii) do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 2%
- injuries: 6%
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1.
(b) Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 and Class 3 by not more than 15% and 25% respectively by number: Provided that the deviating courgettes do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 4% and 16% respectively;
- injuries: 8% and 10% respectively;
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1.
(c) In the case of Lowest Class -decay shall not exceed 20% by mass or number.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements

 

(6) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 courgettes may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements, set out in subregulation 4, by not more than 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number or by mass.

 

Marking requirements

 

(7) Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part 1, each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class courgettes are packed shall be marked with ;
(a) the maximum and minimum length, where applicable; or
(b) the maximum and minimum mass, where applicable.