Standards and Requirements Regarding Control of the Export of Pears

DRAFT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STD. No. D-5 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990 (ACT No. 119 OF 1990) STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONTROL OF THE EXPORT OF PEARS The Executive Officer: Agricultural Product Standards has stipulated under section 4(3)(a)(ii) of the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990), these standards regarding the quality of pears and the requirements regarding the packing, marking and labelling thereof. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 2 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za STD. No. D-5 STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONTROL OF THE EXPORT OF PEARS AS STIPULATED BY GOVERNMENT NOTICE No. R. 1983 OF 23 AUGUST 1991 Promulgation No. 2631 of 30 October 1998 (1998-1) Amendment No. 1288 of 29 October 1999 (1998-2) No. 4634 of 17 November 2000 (1998-3) No. 2053 of 21 September 2001 (1998-4) No. 1737 of 20 September 2002 (1998-5) No. 3349 of 28 November 2003 (1998-6) No. 2987 of 31 December 2004 (1998-7) No. 322 of 3 March 2006 (1998-8) No. 1484 of 20 October 2006 (1998-9) No. 1103 of 7 September 2007 (1998-10) No. 1070 of 5 September 2008 (1998-11) No. of 2009 (1998-12) DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 3 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za CONTENTS Page numbers PART 1: GENERAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PEARS 1. Definitions 5-7 2. Scope 8 3. Requirements for approval 8-9 PART 2: 4. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PEARS, EXCLUDING PEARS INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING Quality and food safety standards 10-12 Containers 13 Packing requirements 14-15 Traceability requirements 16 Marking requirements 17-18 Sampling procedures 19-20 Methods of inspection 21-25 Annexure 1: Table 1: Permissible cultivars (All classes) 26 Table 2A: Quality and food safety standards 27-41 Table 2B: Russeting of cultivars: Class 1 42-46 Table 2C: Russeting of cultivars: Class 2 47-51 Table 3: Maximum permissible deviations by number 52-57 DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 4 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za Page numbers Table 4: Average minimum and maximum pressure readings in kilogram 58 PART 3: STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS RSA 1 Marking requirements 59 Annexure 2: Table 1A: Quality and food safety standards 60-66 Table 1B: Russeting of cultivars: Class RSA 1 67-71 Table 2: Maximum permissible deviations by number 72-75 PART 4: 5. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PEARS INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING Quality and food safety standards 76-77 Containers 78 Packing requirements 79 Traceability requirements 80 Marking requirements 81-82 Sampling procedures 83 Methods of inspection 84 Annexure 3: Table 1: Quality and food safety standards applicable to pears intended for industrial processing 85 Table 2: Maximum permissible deviations by number applicable to pears intended for industrial processing 86-87 DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 5 of 87 1998-8 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za PART 1 GENERAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PEARS Definitions 1. In these standards and requirements, 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 "Arthropoda" means any stage in the life cycle of an invertebrate member of the Animal Kingdom that is bilaterally symmetrical with a segmented body, with jointed limbs that are paired and a chitinous external skeleton; "blemish" means any external skin defect, excluding sunburn, russeting, rough marks and windmarks, on the surface of the pear which detrimentally affects the appearance of the pear; "chemical residues" means residues of agricultural remedies which in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947), are permissible for the treatment of pests and diseases and which do not exceed the prescribed maximum residue limit; "Class RSA1" destination for Africa only and its islands excluding Reunion and Mayotte; "consignment" means (a) a quantity of pears of the same cultivar, belonging to the same owner and delivered at the same time under cover of the same delivery note, consign ment note or receipt note, or delivered by the same vehicle; or (b) in the case of a quantity of pears which is divided into different cultivars, classes, counts, pallet loads, trademarks or types of packaging, every quantity of each of the different cultivars, classes, counts, pallet loads, trademarks or types of packaging; "container" means the immediate container in which pears are packed directly, the outer container in which prepacked units are packed and bulk containers, excluding prepacked units and shipping containers in which pallet loads are shipped; "count" means the number of pears packed in a container; DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 6 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za "decay" means a state of decomposition, fungus development, internal insect infestation or internal insect damage with signs of tissue collapse or insect excrement which detrimentally affects the quality of the pears; "diameter" means the largest diameter measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pear; "dirty fruit" means pears that are visibly soiled or marked with foreign matter excluding chemical residues; "food safety" means assurance that a food product is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use; "foreign matter" means any material or substance not normally present in, on or between the pears; "food business operator (FBO)" means the person or persons responsible for ensuring that the prescribed requirements of these standards are met within the food business under his or her control and include both the management of the food business as well as the person with overall authority on site or in the specific establishment; "food safety" means assurance that food product is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use; "hazard" means a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, a food product with the potential to cause an adverse health effect; "injury" means any wound or puncture which has pierced the skin of the pear and exposes the flesh, with the exception of such wounds or punctures which have become completely callused; "inspector" means the Executive Officer or an officer under his or her control, or an Assignee or a qualified employee of an Assignee; "internal breakdown" means a state of physiological deterioration affecting the internal quality of the pear detrimentally; "pears" means the fruit of the cultivars which are grown from the species Pyrus communis; "prepacked unit" means any single packing unit for presentation as such to the consumer consisting of pears and the packaging into which the pears were put before being offered for sale; DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 7 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za "suitable" means to be suitable according to the opinion of the Executive Officer; and "the Act" means the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990). "traceability" means the ability to trace and follow a food product or any substance intended to be, or expected to be incorporated into a food product through all stages of production, packing, processing, handling and distribution. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 8 of 87 1998-1 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za Scope 2. These standards and requirements shall relate to pears in respect of which an approval for the export thereof is required in terms of section 4 of the Act. Requirements for approval 3. (1) An approval referred to in section 4 of the Act may be issued in respect of a consignment of pears if (a) the pears in that consignment comply with the quality standards prescribed in items 4(1), 4(2) and 5(1); (b) the pears in that consignment comply with the food safety standards prescribed in items 4(3), 4(4), 4(5), 5(2), 5(3) and 5(4); (c) the pears are packed in containers which comply with the require ments prescribed in item 4(6) and 5(5); (d) the pears comply with the packing requirements set out in items 4(7) to 4(10) and 5(6) to 5(9); (e) the pears comply with the traceability requirements set out in items 4(11) and 5(10); (f) the containers concerned are marked according to the requirements set out in items 4(12), 4(13), 5(11) and 5(12); (g) the samples for inspection are drawn according to the requirements set out in items 4(14) to 4(16) and 5(13) to 5(15); (h) the samples are inspected in accordance with the methods set out in items 4(17) to 4(22), 5(16) and 5(17); (i) that consignment has been presented for inspection in accordance with the Regulations Regarding Control of the Export of Pears; and (j) confirmation has been received that the Requirements regarding Food Hygiene and Food Safety Programmes for Regulated Agricultural Food Products of Plant Origin Intended for Export has been met. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 9 of 87 1998-1 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (k) an inspector has, after an inspection in terms of the said regulations, found that the provisions of these standards and requirements have been complied with in respect of the consignment concerned. (2) The Executive Officer may deviate from the stipulated standards and requirements and issue the approval in respect of a quantity of a product that (a) is to be exported as an experiment or under such other special circumstances as may be approved by the Executive Officer; and (b) complies with the requirements for such product in force in the country to which it is to be exported. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 10 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za PART 2 STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PEARS, EXCLUDING PEARS INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING 4. The standards and requirements for pears, excluding pears intended for industrial processing, are as follows: QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS Classes (1) There are three classes of pears, namely "Extra Class", "Class 1" and "Class 2". Standards for classes (2) (a) A consignment of pears shall be classified as Extra Class if it (i) is of superior quality; (ii) is characteristic of the cultivar and/or commercial type with regard to shape, size and colour; (iii) is of a cultivar specified in Table 1 of Annexure 1; (iv) complies with the quality and food safety standards for Extra Class set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1; and (v) does not exceed the maximum permissible deviations by number for Extra Class set out in Table 3 of Annexure 1. (b) A consignment of pears shall be classified as Class 1 if it (i) is of good quality; (ii) is characteristic of the cultivar and/or commercial type; (iii) is of a cultivar specified in Table 1 of Annexure 1; (iv) complies with the quality and food safety standards for Class 1 set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1; and DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 11 of 87 1998-8 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (v) does not exceed the maximum permissible deviations by number for Class 1 set out in Table 3 of Annexure 1. (c) A consignment of pears shall be classified as Class 2 if it (i) is of a cultivar specified in Table 1 of Annexure 1; (ii) complies with the quality and food safety standards for Class 2 set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1; and (iii) does not exceed the maximum permissible deviations by number for Class 2 set out in Table 3 of Annexure 1. (d) No consignment of pears shall be classified as "Extra Class", "Class 1" and "Class 2" if it contains: (i) plant injurious organisms of phytosanitary importance as specified by the Directorate Plant Health; (ii) any organisms which may be a source of danger to the human being; and (iii) Arthropoda infestation including the organisms which do not form part of plant injurious organisms, excluding organism which may be a source of danger to the human being, on more than 3% of the pears or three free running Arthropoda per pallet load thereof in the consignment: Provided that it does not exceed a maximum of one Athropoda per container. Physical hazards (3) No consignment of pears classified as "Extra Class"," Class 1" or "Class 2" shall contain: (a) any foreign matter in excess of the tolerance as set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1; and (b) any organisms which may be a source of danger to the human being in excess of the tolerance as set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 12 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za Biological and chemical hazards (4) No consignment of pears classified as "Extra Class", "Class 1" and "Class 2" shall contain biological or chemical contaminants in quantities or at levels that exceed the maximum limits prescribed in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972: Provided that (a) if the limit of the importing country is lower than is permissible in terms of Act 54 of 1972, the prescribed limit of the importing country shall be complied with; and (b) the Executive Officer may warrant permission for pears with a higher limit, to be exported to countries where such higher limit is per missible: Provided that the producer and exporter shall sign an affidavit in which it is declared that pears with higher limits shall only be exported to a country where these higher limits are permissible. Chemical treatment (5) (a) Any person intending to export pears during any particular season shall, before submitting the first consignment during that season for inspection, on request furnish the Executive Officer within 24 hours with a certificate certifying (i) which chemical remedies have been used during the spray program on the pears trees; and (ii) which chemical remedies have been used on the pears as a post-harvest treatment. (b) Subject to the provisions of subitems (a) and (c), the follow-on consignments of only the producer concerned whose pears exceeded the maximum chemical residue limits, shall be held back from export for not more than four working days in order to establish if the fruit complies with the prescribed residue limits: Provided that if two follow-on consignments of the producer concerned, again comply with the prescribed residue limits, it shall not be held back from export any longer. (c) Chemical residues shall not exceed the prescribed maximum residue limits. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 13 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za CONTAINERS General (6) (a) Containers, excluding bulk containers, in which pears are packed shall (i) be clean, dry, undamaged and suitable; (ii) not impart a foreign taste or odour or any substance which may be injurious to human health to the pears; (iii) be free from any visible signs of fungus growth; (iv) be free from Arthropoda infestation; and (v) be strong and rigid enough to ensure that the original shape be retained and not bulge out, dent in, break or tear, to the extent that pears are damaged or at risk of being damaged, during normal storage, handling or transport. (b) Bulk containers in which pears are packed shall (i) be clean, dry, undamaged and suitable; (ii) be free from any visible signs of fungus growth; (iii) be free from Arthropoda infestation; and (iv) be free from bark if manufactured from wood. (c) Containers (excluding cartons) that are re-used, shall be of a suitable material that can be cleaned and disinfected prior to re-use. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 14 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za PACKING REQUIREMENTS General (7) (a) Only pears of the same quality, cultivar, ripeness and size (if sized) shall be packed together in the same container. (b) Each container shall be packed firmly and to capacity. (c) Pears shall be sized: Provided that sizing shall be optional in the case of Class 2 pears. (d) Extra Class pears shall be packed in layers. (e) Only Class 1 and Class 2 pears may be packed in bulk containers. (f) If pears are packed in prepacked units, such units shall be packed in a suitable manner in an outer container: Provided that the prepacked units are new, clean, dry, undamaged and suitable. Packing material (8) If packing material is used inside the containers, such packing material shall be new, clean, dry, odourless not transmit to pears any harmful substance or any substance that may be injurious to human health and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the pears. Stacking of containers on pallets (9) If containers containing pears are palletised (i) the pallet shall be clean, undamaged and suitable and not transmit to the pears any harmful substance or any substance that may be injurious to human health; (ii) pallets manufactured from wood shall be without bark; (iii) the pallet shall be free from any visible signs of fungus growth; (iv) the pallet shall be free from Arthropoda infestation; (v) the containers shall be stacked firmly and square with each other and the pallet; DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 15 of 87 1998-8 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (vi) only containers of the same dimensions shall be stacked on the same layer; and (vii) the containers shall not be stacked upside-down on the pallet. Strapping of pallet loads (10) (a) A pallet load of containers shall be strapped in a suitable manner. (b) If containers without lids are being used, a suitable covering shall be placed on top of the pallet load of containers before the pallet load is strapped. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 16 of 87 1998-8 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS (11) Producers, packhouse managers and exporters shall: (a) establish the traceability of pears at all stages of production, processing, packing, handling and distribution; (b) be able to identify any person or supplier from whom they have been supplied with pears, or any substance intended to, or expected to be used in the production or processing of pears; (c) have in place systems and procedures to identify other businesses to which their pears have been supplied; (d) ensure that adequate procedures are in place to withdraw pears from the trade where such pears present a serious risk to the health of consumers; (e) immediately withdraw pears from the trade which were identified as food products that present a serious risk to the health of consumers; (f) immediately inform the Executive Officer of such withdrawal; (g) immediately make available to the Executive Officer, on request, any information or documentation mentioned in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f); and (h) keep records of the information mentioned in (g), as well as any other relevant information for at least two years. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 17 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za MARKING REQUIREMENTS General (12) (a) Each container containing pears shall be marked clearly, indelibly, legibly and not untidy, upside-down or askew, in block letters and numerals on any visible short or long side of the lid or container, where lids are not used, by printing, stamping or by means of specially designed labels with the following particulars: Provided that all particulars shall be grouped on the same side: (i) The expression "Pears". (ii) The appropriate cultivar/variety. (iii) The applicable minimum and maximum diameter: Provided that it (aa) may be replaced with the applicable count, preceded by the expression "Count" in the case of pears packed in layers; or (bb) shall be replaced with the applicable minimum diameter followed by the expression "and over" or ">", in the case of Class 2 pears which are not sized. (iv) The expression "Extra Class", "Class 1", "Category 1", "Cat 1", "Class I", "Cat I", "Category I", "Class 2", "Category 2", "Cat 2", "Class II", "Cat II" or "Category II". (v) The country of origin: Provided that no abbreviations or the expression "South Africa" on its own shall be used (e.g. "Produce of South Africa", "Produced in South Africa", or any other similar expression). (vi) The name and physical or postal address of the producer, exporter or owner of the contents of the container as the case may be. (vii) The producer's code (PUC) or packhouse code (PHC) which is registered with the Executive Officer by the producer, exporter or packhouse as the case may be: Provided that DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 18 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (aa) in the case where a producer has more than one farm, each farm shall be registered separately; and (bb) such code shall be preceded by the expression "Producer"/"PUC", "Packhouse"/"PHC", "Pack", "Grower Code" or "Farm number". (viii) The applicable date on at least 90 per cent of the containers: Provided that if the packing date is expressed in a code, it shall be registered with the Executive Officer. (b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (a), each outer container containing prepacked units shall be marked with an indication of the total number of prepacked units per outer container. (c) If an indication highlighting a special grading, presentation or size is indicated on the same side as the particulars in paragraph (a), it shall not be used with the expression "Pears", the cultivar name or the class indication. (d) If the country to which the pears are exported, prescribes requi rements with regard to the marking of containers which differ from the aforesaid requirements, the containers containing such pears may, notwithstanding the provisions of these standards and requirements, be marked in a manner so prescribed and approved by the Executive Officer. (e) In the case of Forelle and Vermont Beauty pears, a sticker with a four digit shipping code, the first two numbers being the harvest week (or official release week if harvest occurred before the official release week) and the second two numbers being the shipping week, must be attached to the pallet. Prohibited particulars (13) 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, shall appear on a container which contains pears. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 19 of 87 1998-3 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za SAMPLING PROCEDURES Obtaining a sample of the consignment (14) At least two per cent of the containers in a consignment shall be drawn at random for inspection purposes and an inspector shall be satisfied that the containers so drawn are representative of the consignment concerned: Provided that in the case of bulk containers, at least 25 per cent of the bulk containers or two bulk containers, whichever is the greatest, shall be drawn at random as sample of the consignment. Obtaining an inspection sample (15) An inspection sample shall (i) in the case of containers, excluding bulk containers, be drawn from each container obtained in accordance with subitem (14) and shall, in the case of (aa) containers with 50 pears or less, consist of the entire contents of the container; or (bb) containers with more than 50 pears, consist of 50 pears drawn at random from the container; (ii) in the case of bulk containers, be obtained by randomly drawing three quantities of 50 pears each, respectively from the middle and two opposite corners, from each bulk container obtained in accordance with subitem (14); and (iii) for the determination of uniformity in size, in the case of pears (aa) packed in layers, with or without trays, be obtained by ran domly drawing a single layer of pears from each container ob tained in accordance with subitem (14); and (bb) packed in any other packaging consists of the entire contents of each container obtained in accordance with subitem (14). DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 20 of 87 1998-3 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za Deviating sample (16) If an inspector should notice during the process of drawing the random sample or during the inspection, that some of the containers derived from any part of the pallet load, truck load or consignment, contain pears which are noticeably inferior to or differ from the contents of containers which represent the remainder of the pallet load, truck load or consignment, the inspection result shall only be based on the containers derived from the deviating portion of the pallet load, truck load or consignment, and further samples required for inspection shall be drawn from this deviating portion. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 21 of 87 1998-8 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za METHODS OF INSPECTION Determination of firmness (17) (a) The firmness of pear cultivars in a consignment shall be determined with a handheld penetrometer or a penetrometer mounted on a drill stand with a plunger of 8,0 millimeter in diameter, or any other industry acknowledged instrument. (b) The firmness of all pear cultivars shall be determined as follows: (i) The ten pears which are in the opinion of the inspector unripe or overripe, shall be taken as a working sample from the inspection sample obtained in accordance with subitem (15): Provided that such pears shall be free from defects such as bruises, sunburn and pests or disease damage, which may have affected the normal ripening process. (ii) Remove a thin slice of skin from opposite sides of each pear where the pear has the largest diameter. (iii) Hold the pear firmly with one hand: Provided that if a handheld penetrometer is used, your hand must rest on a rigid surface. (iv) Zero the penetrometer and place the plunger head of 8,0 millimeter in diameter on the spot where the skin was removed. (v) Apply steady downward pressure on the penetrometer until the plunger has penetrated the flesh of the pear up to the depth mark of the plunger. (vi) Remove the plunger and note the reading on the penetrometer, to one decimal. (vii) Repeat the process on the opposite side of the same pear after first zeroing the penetrometer. (viii) Calculate the average of the two pressure readings of each pear. (c) (i) The pears shall be regarded as sufficiently firm if they conform to the following conditions in any combination set out in subparagraph (ii): DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 22 of 87 1998-10 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (aa) Condition A: Where pears are drawn for testing from four or less containers in accordance with subitem (15), the pears in not more than one container may deviate from the prescribed average minimum or maximum pressure reading as set out in Table 4 of Annexure 1. (bb) Condition B (not applicable on pallet load inspection): Where pears are drawn for testing from five or more containers in accordance with subitem (15), the pears in not more than two containers may deviate from the prescribed average minimum or maximum pressure reading as set out in Table 4 of Annexure 1. (cc) Condition C: A minimum of eight pears, drawn from each container in accordance with subitem (15), shall conform to the prescribed average minimum or maxi mum pressure reading as set out in Table 4 of An nexure 1. (dd) Condition D: In the case of the cultivars Blushed Williams, Bon Rouge and William's Bon Chrétien, a minimum of nine pears drawn from each container, in accordance with subitem (15), shall conform to the prescribed average minimum pressure reading as set out in Table 4 of Annexure 1. (ii) The combination of conditions are as follows (not applicable to pallet load inspection): (aa) A and C. (bb) A, B and C, not applicable to pallet load inspection. (cc) A and D. (dd) A, B and D, not applicable to pallet load inspection. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 23 of 87 1998-3 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (iii) In the case of pallet inspection, at least two containers shall be tested for compliance to the minimum and maximum pressure readings as set out in Table 4 of Annexure 1. If more than two fruits out of the first container deviate, the second container must be tested. If the fruits from the second container comply, the pallet will be deemed as compliant. If the fruits from the second container do not comply, the pallet will be deemed as non-compliant: Provided that if more than three fruits from the first container deviate, the pallet shall also be deemed as non compliant. Determination of internal breakdown and other internal quality defects (18) Internal breakdown and other internal quality defects of pears shall be determined as follows: (i) Take as working sample the ten pears which are, in the opinion of the inspector, the most likely to have been affected by internal breakdown and other internal quality defects, from the inspection sample obtained in accordance with subitem (15). (ii) Cut each of the ten pears. (iii) Calculate the number of pears thus found to be affected by internal breakdown and other internal quality defects, as a percentage of the total number of pears in the inspection sample. Determination of uniformity in size (19) The uniformity in size of pears in the same container shall be determined as follows if (a) packed in layers: (i) Take as working sample the ten pears which noticeably appear to have the greatest difference in diameter drawn in accor dance with subitem (15)(iii)(aa). (ii) Tabulate the diameter of the ten pears in one millimetre grading. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 24 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za (iii) Determine the number of pears, which do not comply with the variation in diameter, set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1, as an average of all the inspection samples taken in accordance with subitem (15)(iii)(aa). (b) jumble packed: (i) Take as working sample the entire contents of the inspection sample taken in accordance with subitem (15)(iii)(bb). (ii) Tabulate the diameter of all the pears in one millimetre grading. (iii) Determine the number of pears, which do not comply with the variation in diameter, set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1, as an average of all the inspection samples taken in accordance with subitem (15)(iii)(bb). Determination of minimum size (20) (a) The minimum size of pears shall be determined by using a suitable apparatus with round openings of which the diameter coincides with the minimum diameter prescribed in Table 2 of Annexure 1. (b) The minimum size shall be determined as follows: (i) Take as working sample the pears which noticeably appear to be the smallest in diameter from the inspection sample obtained in accordance with subitem (15). (ii) Place the pears of the cultivar concerned gently, one after the other, with their stems facing upwards on the corresponding opening of the apparatus mentioned in paragraph (a). (iii) If a pear falls through the prescribed size of the opening through the action of its own gravity, the pear is deemed to be too small. (iv) Calculate the number of pears thus found to be too small as a percentage of the total number of pears in the inspection sample. DRAFT EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS: PEARS Page 25 of 87 1998-5 DIRECTORATE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Private Bag X343, Pretoria, 0001, SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 12 319 6058 Fax: +27 12 319 6055 Visit our website: www.nda.agric.za Verification of compliance to prescribed levels of biological and chemical contamination (21) An inspector shall verify compliance to prescribed levels of biological and chemical contamination by sampling and submitting samples for analysis of only certain consignments according to a risk based plan to prescribed laboratories. Verification of compliance to prescribed levels of chemical treatment (22) An inspector shall verify compliance to the prescribed maximum residue levels for agrochemicals by sampling and submitting samples for analysis of only certain consignments according to a risk based plan to prescribed laboratories.