Regulations relating to the grading, packing and marking of onions and shallots intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa (No. R. 621 of 2009)

4 No. 32282 No. R. 621 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 GOVERNMENT NOTICES GOEWERMENTSKENNISGEWINGS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990 (ACT No. 119 of 1990) 5 June 2009 REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE GRADING, PACKING AND MARKING OF ONIONS AND SHALLOTS INTENDED FOR SALE IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA The Minister of Agriculture has, under section 15 of the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990) (a} made the regulations in the Schedule; and (b) determined that the said regulations shall come into operation on date of publication. SCHEDULE Definitions 1. In these regulations, unless inconsistent with the context, a word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act, shall have a corresponding meaning, and "conalgnmenf' means a quantity of onions or shallots of the same class which belongs to the same owner, delivered at any one time under cover of the same delivery note, consignment note or receipt note or delivered by the same vehicle, or if any such quantity is subdivided into different size groups or cultivars, each quantity of each of the different size groups or cultivars; "diameter" means the largest diameter of an onion or shallot, measured at right angles to a line running from the stem end to the root base; "decay" means a state of decomposition, fungus development or internal insect infestation, that partly or completely detrimentally affects the quality of the onions and shallots; "double bulb" means an onion or a shallot which clearly consists of more than one bulb when adjudicated on external appearance; "foreign matter" means any material not normally present in, on or among the onions or shallots; "inspector" means the Executive Officer or an officer under his control or an Assignee or a trained employee of an Assignee; "malformed" means that the shape of an onion or shallot of any cultivar is not typical of that cultivar; "onion and shallot" means the bulb of any cultivar of the plant 8!li!!m. cepa, excluding onions and shallots intended for processing in a factory; "the Act'' means the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990); and "thick neck bulb" means an onion or shallot whose neck in proportion to the bulb thereof, is abnormally thick. Restrictions on the sale of onions and shallots 2. (1) No person shall sell onions or shallots in the Republic of South Africa (a) unless the onions or shallots are sold according to the classes as referred to in regulation 3; STAATSKOERANT, 5 JUNIE 2009 No. 32282 I (b) unless the onions or shallots comply with the standards regarding quality as referred to In regulations 4 and 5; (c) unless such onions or shallots are packed in a container and in the manner as prescribed In regulations 6, 7 and 8; ( d) unless such onions or shallots are marked with the particulars and in the manner as prescribed In regulations 9, 10 and 11; and ( e) unless such onions or shallots are sampled in the manner as prescribed in regulation 12. (2) The Executive Officer may grant written exemption, entirely or partially, to any person on such conditions as he deems necessary, from the provisions of subregulation (1 ): Provided that such exemption is done in terms of section 3(1 )(c) of the Act. QUALITY STANDARDS Claases for onions and shallots 3. There are four classes of onions and shallots, namely Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class. Standards for classes 4. (a) The classes mentioned in regulation 3 shall comply with the quality standards as set out in Table 1. (b) Be flt for human consumption as prescribed in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972). Deviations 5. The classes mentioned in regulation 3 may deviate (m/m) from the standards prescribed in regulation 4, to the extent as set out in Table 2. CONTAINERS Requirements for containers 6. Containers in which onions or shallots are packed shall (a) be intact, clean, suitable and strong enough for the packing and normal handling of onions or shallots; (b) not impart a taste or odour to onions or shallots; and ( c) in case of containers that are re-used, be of such materials that the container can be cleaned and disinfected prior to re-use. Closing of containers 7. Containers shall be closed in any suitable manner. PACKING REQUIREMENTS 8. (1) Onions or shallots shall, in the same consignment, in the case of Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 correspond in cultivar, class, size group and maturity. 6 No. 32282 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 (2) Each container of a type as prescribed in regulation 6 shall be packed as firmly as possible with onions or shallots without damaging the container or the onions or shallots concerned. MARKING REQUIREMENTS 9. (1) Each container of onions or shallots destined for sale shall be marked clearly, legible, Indelibly and not untidy, or askew in block letters and numerals by printing, stamping or by means of specially designed labels described in subregulation (4) with the following particulars: Provided that all particulars shall be grouped on.the same .side: (a) the name or trademark and physical or postal address of either the producer or owner or importer or packer of the onions or shallots packed in that container; (b) the producers' code or packhouse code (with the exception of imported onions or shallots), which is registered with the Executive Officer by the producer or packhouse as the case may be: Provided that (aa) the packhouse code shall only be used if the origin of the fresh vegetables cannot be traced back to the producer; (bb) if a producer has more than one farm, each farm shall be registered separately; (cc) such code shall be preceded by the expression •Producer:·, "Packhouse:•, ·Packer:· or any other suitable term having a similar meaning; and (dd) the producer has a system in place to enable him/her to track a specific consignment of onions or shallots down to field level. (c) The expression ·crass 1·, "Class 2", •crass 3" and •Lowest Class·, as the case may be. (d) In the case of Class 1 and Class 2, the size group namely "Extra Large•, "Large•, "Medium•, "Small" or "Pickles• as the case may be. (e) The net mass of the contents as prescribed in terms of the Trade Metrology Act, 1973 (Act No. n of 1973). (f) The name of the type of onions or shallots in the case of containers when the contents of which are not visible from outside. (g) The applicable date/date code on at least 90% of the containers: Provided that if a packing date is expressed in a code, It shall be registered with the Executive Officer. (2) The particulars prescribed in subregulation (1) shall be indicated on the container by stamping, printing or by affixing a label thereon. (3) If at any stage the class or size designation should change the labels shall be replaced unless the new class or size designation is stamped across the old class or size designation, in clear legible block letters of at least 2 mm larger than the previous marks, with a suitable stamp. (4) Each container containing onions or shallots shall be provided with only one or more labels that shall be (a) intact, clean and neat; (b) manufactured from suitable material; and STAATSKOERANT, 5 JUNIE 2009 No. 32282 7 (c) affixed firmly to the container and in such a manner that re-stamping is possible without opening or damaging the container. Display 10. Wherever onions or shallots are displayed for sale in loose quantities (a) any quantity of a particular class, or a particular size group or cultfvar shall not be displayed mixed witb onions or .shallots otaoy other class, size group or cultivar; and (b) adherence to the marking requirements is optional: Provided that if marked, the class, and in the case of Class 1 and Class 2 also the size group of such quantity of onions or shallots, shall be indicated in clear legible block letters of at least 1 o mm in height on a notice board prominently placed at such a quantity of onions or shallots. Prohibited parliculars 11. No wording, illustration or other means of expression which constitutes a misrepresentation or which directly or by implication, creates a misleading impression of the contents, or of the quality or the class thereof, shall appear on a container containing onions or shallots or on a label attached thereto. SAMPLING 12. An inspecter shall drawn, at random for inspection purposes, a number of containers and satisfied himself that the containers so drawn are representative of the consignment concerned. OFFENCE AND PENAL TIES 13. Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction be liable to a fine or imprisonment in terms of section 11 of the Act. 12 No. 32282 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 T ABEL 1 IT ABLE 1 GEHAL TESTANDAARDE/QUALITY STANDARDS l I I I I GEHALTEFAKTOR/ KLAS 1/ KLAS2/ KLAS 3/ LAAGSTE QUALITY FACTOR CLASS 1 CLASS 2 CLASS 3 KLAS/LOWEST CLASS I Mag nie voor I (a) Saadstele en uit- Mag nie voor- I Mag nie voor- .. loopsels/Seed stems kom nie/Shall not kom nie/ShaH not ! kom nie/Shall not and sprouts occur occur occur , (b) Voorkoms/ Droog, ferm, Feitlik droog, Taamlik droog, Appearance skoon en goed ferm, skoon en ferm, skoon en .. ontwikkeld/Dry, goed ontwikkeld/ goed ontwikkeld/ firm, clean and Practically dry, Fairly dry, firm, well developed firm, clean and ! clean and well well developed developed i i ~ (C) lnsekbeskadi- Mag nie voor- Beskadiging met Beskadiging met .. ging/!nsect damage kom nie/Shall not 'n maksimum 'n maksimum occur diepte van twee diepte van twee vlesige skut vlesige skutblare blare is toelaat- is toelaatbaar: baar: Met dien Met dien ver verstande dat stande dat hoog hoogstens 15% stens 25% van van die bol met die bol met reguit regult snitte weg- snitte weggesny gesny moet word moetword om om die beska- die beskadigde digde dele te delete verwyder/ verwyder/ Damage with a Damage with a maximum depth maximum depth of two fleshy of two fleshy bracts is per bracts is per- missible: Provi missible: Provi- ded that not ded that not more than 25% more than 15% of the bulb shall of the bulb shall be cut away with be cut away with straight cuts to straight cuts to remove the remove the da- damaged I maged portions portions • (d) lnsekbesmet- Mag nie voor- Mag nie voor- Mag nie voor- .. ting/Insect kom nie/Shall not kom nie/Shal! not kom nie/Shall not infestation occur occur occur (e) Vonn/Shape .. .. (i) Onions/Uie Kenmerkend vir Soos vir Klas die betrokke 1/As for Class 1 kultivar/Typical of the cultivar concerned (ii) Shallots/ Salote Hullemao Soos·vir Klas 1/ STAATSKOERANT, 5 JUNIE 2009 No. 32282 13 klusters of As for Class1 verbonde klusters he groot en klein in spesifiek grootereeks./ May have cluster or connected clusters large and small in a specific size range i {f} Diknekbolle/ * Thick necks (i) Onions/ Uie Dik nekke met 'n Dik nekke met 'n Geen spesifi maksimum deur- maksimum deur- kasie: Met dien snee van 10 mm snee van 20 mm verstande dat 'n is toelaatbaar/ is toelaatbaar/ bol gevorm het' Thick necks with Thick necks with No specification: a maximum dia- a maximum dia- Provided that a meter of 10 mm meter of 20 mm bulb has been is permissible is pennissible fonned I Shallots/ Salotte * * * * I (ii) Nie toepaslik/Not I applicable I I (g) Kleur/Colour I (i) Onions/Uie Moet van die- Soos vir Klas • * I selfde kleur 1/As for Class 1 I wees/Shall be of I the same colour I (ii) Salotte/Shallots Karakteristiek Soos vir Klas i * van die betrokke 1/As for Class 1 I * i kultivar: Metdien verstande dat I purper en bruin Salotte mag I saamlik verpak, I met uitsondering I van Wit Salotte. / Characteristically of the cultivar concerned: Provided that purple and brown shallots maybe packed together, with exception of i ' white shallots. i (h) Hitte- of koue- Mag nie voor- Mag nie voor- Feitlik vry: Met * beskadiging/ kom nle/Shall not kom nie/Shall not dien verstande Heat orcold occur occur dat die beska damage diging nie dieper as drie vlesiae 14 No. 32282 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 skutblare is nie/ Practically free: Provided that the damage is not deeper than three fleshy bracts (i) Wortels/Roots Geen wortels Geen wortels * * !anger as 20 mm langer as 30 mm nie/No roots nie/No roots longer than longer than 20mm 30mm (i) Skutblare/Bracts Moet feitlik vry Moet taamlik vry .. * van los skutblare van los skutblare wees/Shall be wees/ Shall be practically free fairly free from from loose loose bracts bracts (k) Lowvve/T ops Moet afgesny of Soos vir Klas 1 / Moet afgesny of * afgeknip wees As for Class 1 afgeknip wees enmagnie enmagnie !anger as 40 mm langer as 50 mm wees nie/Shall wees nie/Shall be cut or clipped be cut or clipped off and may not off and may not belongerthan be longer than 40mm 50mm (I} Dubbelbolle/ Mag nie voor- Dubbelbolle wat Dubbelbolle wat * Double bulbs kom nie/Shall not volledig met bedek is met occur dieselfde droe droe los skut skutblaar bedek blare/Double is, is toelaatbaar/ bulbs which are Double bulbs covered with which are loose dry bract entirely covered with the same dry bract are permissible (m) Kneusings/ Mag nie voor- 'n Maksimum T oelaatbaar: Met * Bruises kom nie/Shall not van 10% van die dien verstande occur oppervlak van dat die ui nie die bol mag 'n voos en waterig ligte intensiteit is nie/Perrnis kneusings ver- Sible: Provided toon/A maximum that the onions of 10% of the are not spongy surface of the and watery bulb may show as light intensity of bruises ! (n} Meganiese beska- Mag nie voor- Beskadiging met Beskadiging met diging/Mechanical kom nie/Shall not 'n maksimum 'n maksimum .. STAATSKOERANT, 5 JUNIE 2009 No. 32282 15 damage occur diepte van twee ! diepte van twee vlesige skutblare vlesige skutblare is toelaatbaar: [ is toelaatbaar: Met dien ver- Met dien ver stande dat hoog I stande dat hoog stens 15% van stens 25% van die bol met reguit die bol met reguit snitte weggesny I snitte weggesny word om die be- i word om die be skadigde dele te 1 skadigde dele te verwyder/Da- I verwyder/Da-mage with a mage with a i ! maxim um depth I maximum depth l of two fleshy of two fleshy bracts is per- bracts is per missible: Provi I missible: Provi i ded that not ded that not I more than 25% I more than 25% of the bulb shall of the bulb shall I be cut away with I be cut away with I straight cuts to straight cuts to ! remove the remove the damaged l damaged I portions I portions (o) Swartskimmel Vry van sigbare (i) Hoogstens (i) Hoogstens * (swartbas)/Black swartskimmel/ 20% van die 50% van die mould Shall be free oppervlak opperviak an from visual black van die bol die bol mag mould mag met met swart swartskim I skimmei van mel van 'n 'n ligte inten ligte intensi I siteit aange teit aange- tas wees/Not tas wees/ I more than Not more 50% of the than 20% of surface of the the surface i bulb may be of the bulb affected with maybe a slight i affected intensity of with a slight i black mould I intensity of I l I black mould I (ii) Hoogstens (ii) Hoogstens I 10%van die 20%vandie oppervlak oppervlak van die bol van die bol mag met mag met swartskim- swartskim mel van 'n mel van 'n ernstlge ernstige intensiteit intensitelt aangetas aangetas wees/Not wees/Not more than more than 10% of the 20% of the surface of surface of 16 No. 32282 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 the bulb the bulb maybe maybe affected affected with a se- with a se rious inten- rious inten sity of black sity of black mould mould (p) Vergroening/ Ligte vergroe- Ligte vergroe- Danker vergroe .. Greening ning van die hele ning is onbeperk ningwat nie ui of salot is toelaatbaar dieper as drie toelaatbaar: Met terwyl donker vlesige skutblare dlen verstande vergroening van strek nie, is dat die vergroe- nie dieper as toelaatbaar/Dark ning nie dieper twee vlesige greening not as twee vlesige skutblare nie, deeper than skut-blare strek toelaatbaar three fleshy nie/Light is/Light greening bracts is greening on not unlimited and permissible more than 50% dark greening of total area of not deeper than the bulb is per- two fleshy bracts missible: Provi- is permissible ded that the greening is not deeper than one fleshy bract (q) Enige ander uit- Mag nie voor- Feitlik vry/Prac- Taamlik vry/ .. wendige of in- kom nie/Shall not ticallyfree Fairly free wendige gehal- occur tegebreke/Any other external or internal quality defects (r) Vreemde stowwe/ i Mag nie voor- Mag nie voor- Mag nie voor- .. Foreign matter kom nie/Shall not kom nie/Shall not kom nie/Shall not occur occur occur (s) Groottegroepe/ Size groups: Onions/Uie (i) Ekstra groot/ Minstens 90 mm Soos vir Klas 1 / .. .. Extra large In deursnee/At As for Class 1 least 90 mm in diameter (ii) Groot/Large Minstens 70 mm Soos vir Klas 1/ .. .. maar hoogstens As for Class 1 90 mm in deur snee/At least 70 mm but not more than 90 mm in diameter (iii) Medium Minstens 40 mm Soos vir Klas 1/ .. ,. maar hoogstens As for Class 1 STAATSKOERANT, 5 JUNIE 2009 No. 32282 17 70 mm in deur snee/At least 40 mm but not more than 70 mm in diameter (iv) Klein/ Minstens 35 mm Soos vir Klas 1/ .. .. Small maar hoogstens As for Class 1 50 mm in deur snee/At least 35 mm but not more than 50 mm in diameter (v) Atjar/ Minstens 1 0 mm Soos vir Klas 1/ .. Pickles maar hoogstens As for Class 1 35 mm in deur snee/At least 10 mm but not more than 35 mm in diameter Shallots/ Salotte (i) Ekstra grooU Minster 66mm in Soos vir Klas 1 / .. ,. Extra large deursnee/At As for Class least 66 mm in diameter (ii) Groot/Large Minstens 46 mm Soos vir Klas 1 / .. .. maar hoogstens As for Class 65mm in deur snee/At least 46 mm but not more than 65 mm in diameter (iii) Medium/Small Minstens 15 mm Soos vir Klas 1/ .. .. maar hoogstens As for Class 45mm in deur snee/At least 15mm but not more than 45mm in diameter * Geen spesifikasies nie/No specifications 18 No. 32282 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5 JUNE 2009 TABEL 21TABLE 2 TOELAATBARE AFWYKINGS (m/m)/PERMISSIBLE DEVIATIONS (mlm) Gehaltefaktor/Quality Klas 1 /Class 1 Klas 2/Class 2 Klas 3/Class 3 Laagste Klas/ factor Lowest class (a) Bederf/Decay (I) Droe tipe bederf/ 3% 5% 8% .. Dry type decay (ii) Nat tipe bederf/ 1% 2% 4% .. Wet type decay (Iii) (I) en (ii) gesa- 3% 5% 8% .. mentllk, mits die individuele perke nie oorskry word nie/(i) and (ii) collectively, provided that the individual limits are not exceeded {b) Swartskimmel {#)/Black 3% 5% 8% * mould(#) (c) Uitwendige en inwendige 10% 15% 25% * gehaltegebreke uitgeson derd bederf en swart skimmel/Extemal and internal quality defects with the exception of decay and black mould .. (d) (a), (b) en (c) gesament- 10% 15% 25% .. lik,mits die individuele perke hierbo gespesi fiseer nie oorskry word nie/(a), (b) and (c) collectively, provided that the individual limits specified above are not exceeded { e) Groottegroepafwykings/ Size group deviations: (i) Te groot of te klein/ 10% 15% .. .. Too large or too small (ii) Te groat en te klein 10% 15% * • gesamentlik/Too large and too small collectively * Geen spesifikasies nie/No specifications. # lndien die swartskimmel nat of smetterig is, sal dit as "nat bederf' beskou en as sulks getel word/In the case where black mould is wet or smutty, it shall be seen as wet type decay and be counted as such.