The regulations for fennel of the varieties (cultivars) of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) |
Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class fennel in subregulation 2 and 3 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 7, fennel shall ; |
| (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 injuries; |
| (h) |
be free from bruises; |
| (j) |
be free from abnormal external moisture; |
| (i) |
be free from foreign odours; |
| (k) |
not be running to seed; |
| (l) |
be free from cold damage; |
| (m) |
be free from sun-scorch; |
| (o) |
be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
| (p) |
be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
| (q) |
be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
Classification
| (2) |
Fennel classified as Class 1 shall have ; |
| (a) |
colour typical of the cultivar; and |
| (b) |
outer ribs that are compact, fleshy, tender and white. |
| (3) |
Fennel classified as Class 2 and Class 3 may have green patches that appear on the outside of the bulb: Provided that it does not cover more than 30% of its surface. |
| (4) |
In the case of lowest class - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
| (5) |
Fennel shall be packed and sorted according to the maximum diameter of the equatorial section. |
| (6) |
The minimum diameter for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 is 60 mm |
| (7) |
The difference in diameter between the smallest and largest Class 1 fennel in the same package shall not exceed 20 mm. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
| (a) |
Class 1 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; |
| (i) |
at least comply with quality standards for Class 2; |
| (ii) |
do not exceed the following individual limits: and |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (b) |
Class 2 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 with 15% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; |
| - |
do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (c) |
Class 3 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 3 with 25% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
| (9) |
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 fennel may deviate from packing and sorting requirements set out in subregulations 4 to 6, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by mass: Provided that the deviations may not be extended to include fennel with a diameter below 55 mm. |
Marking requirements
| (10) |
Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part I, each container in which Class 1 and Class 2 fennel is packed shall be marked with the minimum and maximum diameter and in the case of Class 3 and Lowest Class the minimum diameter. |