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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

23. Green Peas

 

The regulations for shelling green peas of varieties (cultivars) grown from Pisum sativum L. and peas intended for consumption in the pods or snow peas (mangetout peas) from Pisum sativum L. var. macrocarpon and snap peas from Pisum sativum L. var. saccharatum, are as follows:

 

Quality standards

 

(1) Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 green peas in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 4 shall ;
(a) be intact, except in the case of trimmed peas, snow peas, mangetout peas or snap peas: Provided that trimmed peas are clearly marked as such;
(b) be free from decay;
(c) be clean and free from foreign matter, including soil and parts of the flowers;
(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, also in the case of the seeds;
(h) be free from bruises;
(i) be free from injuries;
(j) be free from abnormal external moisture;
(k) be free from foreign odours;
(I) be free from cold damage;
(m) be free from sun-scorch;
(n) be free from hard filaments or films in mangetout peas and snap peas;
(o) be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the green peas detrimentally;
(p) be fresh;
(q) have pods and peas that are young and tender;
(r) be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and
(s) be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling.

 

Classification

 

(2)
(a) The green peas classified as Class 1 shall ;
(i) in the case of shelling peas ;
(aa) have normally developed, tender, succulent and sufficiently firm, non-farinaceous seeds at least half full-grown but not full grown;
(bb) contain at least 5 seeds per pod;
(cc) have peduncles attached to pod; and
(ii) in the case of snap peas and mangetout peas seeds if present must be small and underdeveloped.
(b) The peas classified as Class 2 and Class 3 shall ;
(i) not be over developed;
(ii) in the case of shelling peas contain ;
(aa) at least 3 seeds per pod;
(bb) no over-mature seeds; and
(iii) in the case of mangetout peas and sugar snap peas seeds if present may be slightly more developed than in Class 1: Provided that overmature peas are not allowed.
(c) In the case of Lowest Class peas - unspecified.

 

Packing and sorting requirements

 

(3) Sizing is not compulsory in the case of peas.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards

 

(4)
(a) Class 1 green peas may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating peas ;
(i) at least comply with the quality standards for Class 1; and
(ii) do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 2%
- Injuries: 6%
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1.
(b) Class 2 and Class 3 green peas may deviate form the quality standards for Class 2 and Class 3 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating peas do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 4% and 6% respectively;
- injuries: 8% and 10% respectively;
- Arthropoda infestation: Limit 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 sorting and packing requirements

 

(5) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 green peas may deviating from the packing and sorting requirements set out in subregulation 3, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by mass.

 

Marking requirements

 

(6) Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part 1 each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class green peas are packed with—
(a) the expression "shelling peas", "mangetout peas", "sugar snap peas" or equivalent expression if the contents are not visible from the outside;
(b) "trimmed", "topped and tailed" or other relevant expression in the case of trimmed peas.