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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

17. Endives

 

The regulations for endives of the varieties (cultivars) of Chicorium endivia L var crispa and Chicorium endivia L. var. latifolia, are as follows:

 

Quality standards

 

(1) Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class endives in subregulation 3 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 6, endives 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 any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the endives detrimentally;
(o) be fresh and show no sign of withering;
(p) be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar;
(q) be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling.

 

(2) The stalk of the endives shall be neatly cut off close to the base of the outer leaves.

 

Classifications

 

(3)
(a) In the case of endives classified as Class 1, the endives shall—
(i) have a yellow centre;
(ii) be of a good quality; and
(iii) be well formed.
(b) In the case of endives classified as Class 2 and Class 3, the endives ;
(i) shall have a white to yellow centre;
(ii) shall be of a fairly good quality;
(iii) shall be reasonably well formed; and
(iv) may be slightly discoloured.
(c) In the case of Lowest Class endives - unspecified.

 

Packing and sorting requirements

 

(4)
(a) Endives shall be packed and sorted according to mass of individual units.
(b) In the case of Class 1 endives —
(i) grown under protection —
(aa) the minimum mass per endive shall be 150 g; and
(bb) the difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest endive in the same packing shall not exceed 100 g; or
(ii) grown in open-air—
(aa) the minimum mass per endive shall be 200 g; and
(bb) the difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest endive in the same packing shall not exceed 150 g.
(c) In the case of Class 2 and Class 3 endives ;
(i) grown under protection ;
(aa) the minimum mass per endive shall be 100 g; and
(bb) the difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest endives in the same packing shall not exceed 100 g; or
(ii) grown in open air ;
(aa) the minimum mass per endives shall-be 100 g; and
(bb) the difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest endives in the same packing shall not exceed 100 g.
(d) In the case of Lowest Class endives - unspecified

 

(5) A container of Class 1 endives shall not contain more than three layers of endives.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards

 

(6)
(a) Class 1 endives may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 by not more than 10% by number: Provided that the deviating endives—
(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 endives 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 endives—
(i) are not affected by rotting or severely bruised;
(ii) do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay 4% and 6% 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

 

(7) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 endives may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements by 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number as set out in subregulation 4: Provided that the mass does not deviate by more than 10% from the applicable size groups.

 

(8) Lowest Class indives - unspecified.

 

Marking requirements

 

(9) Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part I each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class endives are packed shall be marked with ;
(a) the expression "grown under protection", where applicable; and
(b) the minimum mass per unit or the number of units in the container concerned.