Standards and Requirements Regarding Control of the Export of Apples

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STD. No. D-1 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990 (ACT No. 119 OF 1990) STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONTROL OF THE EXPORT OF APPLES 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 apples and the requirements regarding the packing, marking and labelling thereof. 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 2 STD No. D-1 STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONTROL OF THE EXPORT OF APPLES AS STIPULATED BY GOVERNMENT NOTICE No. R. 1983 OF 23 AUGUST 1991 Promulgation No. 2633 of 30 October 1998 (1998-1) Amendments No. 2480 of 19 November 1999 (1998-2) No. 4698 of 22 December 2000 (1998-3) 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 3 CONTENTS Page numbers PART 1: GENERAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLES 1. Definitions 5-6 2. Scope 7 3. Requirements for approval 7 PART 2: 4. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLES, EXCLUDING APPLES INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING Quality standards 8-9 Containers 10 Packing requirements 11-12 Marking requirements 13-14 Sampling procedures 15 Methods of inspection 16-23 Chemical treatment 24 Annexure 1: Table 1: Permissible cultivars (All classes) 25 Table 2: Quality standards 26-39 Table 3: Maximum permissible deviations by number 40-47 Table 4: Maximum residue limits for permissible chemicals (All classes) 48-51 Table 5: Overripeness standard (All classes) 52 Table 6: Minimum ripeness: Pip colour (All classes) 53 Table 7: Minimum ripeness: The iodine test (All classes) 54 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 4 PART 3: 5. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLES INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING Quality standards 55 Containers 56 Packing requirements 57 Marking requirements 58 Sampling procedures 59 Chemical treatment 60 Annexure 2: Table 1: Quality standards applicable to apples intended for industrial processing 61 Table 2: Maximum permissible deviations by number applicable to apples intended for industrial processing 62 PART 4: ILLUSTRATED QUALITY FACTORS Annexure 3: Illustrations applicable to apples: Extra Class Annexure 4: Illustrations applicable to apples: Class 1 Annexure 5: Illustrations applicable to apples: Class 2 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 5 PART 1 GENERAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLES 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; "apples" means the fruit of the cultivars which are grown from the species Malus sylvestris; "blemish" means any external skin defect, excluding sunburn, russeting, rough marks and windmarks, on the surface of the apple which detrimentally affects the appearance of the apple; "bruise" means any bruise which shows an indentation or results in discoloration directly under the skin; "consignment" means (a) a quantity of apples of the same cultivar, belonging to the same owner and delivered at the same time under cover of the same delivery note, consignment note or receipt note, or delivered by the same vehicle; or (b) in the case of a quantity of apples that 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 apples 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; "core rot" means (a) progressive core rot (wet) that extends into the flesh of the apple or non progressive core rot (dry) which extends more than 10 millimetres into the flesh of the apple; and (b) non-progressive core rot (dry) which does not extend more than 10 millimetres into the flesh of the apple; "count" means the number of apples packed in a container; 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 6 "decay" means a state of decomposition, fungus development, internal insect infestation or internal insect damage with signs of tissue collapse or insect excrement, excluding insect puncture marks, which detrimentally affects the quality of the apples; "diameter" means the largest diameter measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the apple; "dirty fruit" means apples that are visibly soiled or marked with foreign matter excluding chemical residues; "foreign matter" means any material or substance not normally present in, on or between the apples; "injury" means any wound or puncture which has pierced the skin of the apple and exposes the flesh, as well as insect puncture marks which have pierced the skin, with the exception of such wounds or punctures which have become completely callused, or skin punctures on York Imperial apples; "inspector" means the Executive Officer or an officer under his or her control, or an Assignee or an employee of an Assignee; "lenticel pitting" a physiological state characterized by light yellow discoloured spots localized at the calyx-end of the fruit which could during cold storage, develop into darkbrown corky tissue; "lenticel spot/calcium spot" small darkbrown spots visible on the lenticels of the apple, with no discoloration or corkiness of the underlying tissue; "prepacked unit" means any single packing unit for presentation as such to the consumer consisting of apples and the packaging into which the apples were put before being offered for sale; "skin punctures" means injuries on apples caused by stems of apples penetrating the skin of an apple; "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). 1998-1 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 7 Scope 2. These standards and requirements shall relate to apples 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 apples if (a) the apples in that consignment comply with the quality standards prescribed in items 4(1) and 4(2); (b) the apples are packed in containers which comply with the requirements prescribed in item 4(3); (c) the apples comply with the packing requirements set out in items 4(4) to 4(7); (d) the containers concerned are marked according to the requirements set out in items 4(8) and 4(9); (e) the samples for inspection are drawn according to the requirements set out in items 4(10) to 4(12); (f) the samples are inspected in accordance with the methods set out in items 4(13) to 4(19); (g) the apples comply with the requirements in respect of chemical treatment as prescribed in items 4(20) and 4(21); (h) that consignment has been presented for inspection in accordance with the Regulations Regarding Control of the Export of Apples; and (i) 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 grant written exemption, entirely or partially, to any person on such conditions as he or she deems necessary, from the provisions of subitem (1). 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 8 PART 2 STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLES, EXCLUDING APPLES INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING 4. The standards and requirements for apples, excluding apples intended for industrial processing, are as follows: QUALITY STANDARDS Classes (1) There are three classes of apples, namely "Extra Class", "Class 1" and "Class 2". Standards for classes (2) (a) A consignment of apples 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 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 apples 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 standards for Class 1 set out in Table 2 of Annexure 1; and (v) does not exceed the maximum permissible deviations by number for Class 1 set out in Table 3 of Annexure 1. 1998-1 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 9 (c) A consignment of apples 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 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. 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 10 CONTAINERS General (3) (a) Containers, excluding bulk containers, in which apples are packed shall (i) be clean, dry, undamaged and suitable; (ii) not impart a foreign taste or odour to the apples; (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 apples are damaged or are at risk of being damaged, during normal storage, handling or transport. (b) Bulk containers in which apples 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. 1998-1 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 11 PACKING REQUIREMENTS General (4) (a) Only apples of the same quality, cultivar, ripeness and size (if sized) shall be packed in the same container. (b) Each container shall be packed firmly and to capacity. (c) Apples shall be sized: Provided that sizing shall be optional in the case of Class 2 apples. (d) Extra Class apples shall be packed in layers. (e) Only Class 1 and Class 2 apples may be packed in bulk containers. (f) If apples 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 (5) If packing material is used inside the containers, such packing material shall be new, clean, dry, odourless and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the apples. Stacking of containers on pallets (6) If containers containing apples are palletised (i) the pallet shall be clean, undamaged and suitable; (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; (vi) only containers of the same dimensions shall be stacked in the same layer on the pallet; and (vii) the containers shall not be stacked upside down on the pallet. 1998-1 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 12 Strapping of pallet loads (7) (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. 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 13 MARKING REQUIREMENTS General (8) (a) Each container containing apples 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 "Apples": Provided that if the contents are visible from the outside, this expression does not have to be indicated on the container. (ii) The appropriate cultivar. (iii) The applicable minimum and maximum diameter: Provided that it (aa) may be replaced with the applicable count, preceeded by the expression "Count", in the case of apples packed in layers; or (bb) shall be replaced with the applicable minimum diameter followed by the expression "and over", in the case of Class 2 apples which are not sized. (iv) The expression "Extra Class", "Class 1", "Cat 1", "Class I", "Class 2", "Cat 2" or "Class II". (v) The country of origin: Provided that no abbreviations or the expression "South Africa" on its own shall be used. (vi) The name and address of the producer or exporter. (vii) The producer's code or the packhouse code which is registered with the Executive Officer by the producer, exporter or packhouse, as the case may be: Provided that (aa) The packhouse code shall only be used if the origin of the apples cannot be traced back to the producer; and 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 14 (bb) in the case where a producer has more than one farm, each farm shall be registered separately. (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 in coherence with the expression "Apples", the cultivar name or the class indication. (d) If the country to which the apples are exported, prescribes require ments with regard to the marking of containers which differ from the aforesaid requirements, the containers containing such apples may, notwithstanding the provisions of these standards and requirements, be marked in a manner so prescribed and approved by the Executive Officer. Prohibited particulars (9) 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 apples. 1998-3 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 15 SAMPLING PROCEDURES Obtaining a sample of the consignment (10) 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 (11) An inspection sample shall: (i) in the case of containers, excluding bulk containers, be drawn from each container obtained in accordance with subitem (10) and shall, in the case of (aa) containers with 50 apples or less, consist of the entire contents of the container; or (bb) containers with more than 50 apples, consist of 50 apples drawn at random from the container; (ii) in the case of bulk containers, be obtained by randomly drawing three quantities of 50 apples each, respectively from the middle and two opposite corners, from each bulk container obtained in accordance with subitem (10); and (iii) for the determination of uniformity in size, in the case of apples (aa) packed in layers, with or without trays, be obtained by random ly drawing a single layer of apples from each container ob tained in accordance with subitem (10); and (bb) packed in any other packaging consists of the entire contents of each container obtained in accordance with subitem (10). DRAFT 1998-1 D-1(B) - EXPORT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS (APPLES) –2000-11-30 - TP5 16 Deviating sample (12) 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 apples 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.