Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011Show full title

[F1 PART 1: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR APPLES

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

This standard applies to apples of varieties (cultivars) grown from Malus domestica Borkh., to be supplied fresh to the consumer, apples for industrial processing being excluded.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for apples, after preparation and packaging.

However, at stages following dispatch products may show in relation to the requirements of the standard:

• a slight lack of freshness and turgidity,

• for products graded in classes other than the ‘Extra’ Class, a slight deterioration due to their development and their tendency to perish.

A. Minimum requirements U.K.

In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, apples must be:

• intact,

• sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,

• clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter,

• practically free from pests,

• free from damage caused by pests affecting the flesh,

• free from serious watercore, except for varieties marked with ‘V’ listed in the appendix to this standard,

• free of abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

The development and condition of the apples must be such as to enable them:

• to withstand transportation and handling, and

• to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.

B. Maturity requirements U.K.

The apples must be sufficiently developed, and display satisfactory ripeness.

The development and state of maturity of the apples must be such as to enable them to continue their ripening process and to reach the degree of ripeness required in relation to the varietal characteristics.

In order to verify the minimum maturity requirements, several parameters may be considered (for example morphological aspect, taste, firmness and refractometric index).

C. Classification U.K.

Apples are classified in three classes defined below.

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

Apples in this class must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety(1) and with the stalk which must be intact.

Apples must express the following minimum surface colour characteristic of the variety:

• 3/4 of total surface red coloured in case of colour group A,

• 1/2 of total surface mixed red coloured in case of colour group B,

• 1/3 of total surface slightly red coloured, blushed or striped in case of colour group C,

• no minimum colour requirement in case of colour group D.

The flesh must be perfectly sound.

They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package:

• very slight skin defects,

• very slight russeting(2) such as:

  • brown patches that may not go outside the stem cavity and may not be rough and/or

  • slight isolated traces of russeting.

(ii) Class I U.K.

Apples in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety(3).

Apples must express the following minimum surface colour characteristic of the variety:

• 1/2 of total surface red coloured in case of colour group A,

• 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured in case of colour group B,

• 1/10 of total surface slightly red coloured, blushed or striped in case of colour group C,

• no minimum colour requirement in case of colour group D.

The flesh must be perfectly sound.

The following slight defects, however, may be allowed, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package:

• a slight defect in shape,

• a slight defect in development,

• a slight defect in colouring,

• slight bruising not exceeding 1 cm ² of total surface area and not discoloured,

• slight skin defects which must not extend over more than:

  • 2 cm in length for defects of elongated shape,

  • 1 cm ² of total surface area for other defects, with the exception of scab ( Venturia inaequalis ), which must not extend over more than 0,25 cm ² , cumulative, in area,

• slight russeting(4) such as:

  • brown patches that may go slightly beyond the stem or pistil cavities but may not be rough and/or

  • thin net-like russeting not exceeding 1/5 of the total fruit surface and not contrasting strongly with the general colouring of the fruit and/or

  • dense russeting not exceeding 1/20 of the total fruit surface, while

  • thin net-like russeting and dense russeting taken together may not exceed a maximum of 1/5 of the total surface of the fruit.

The stalk may be missing, provided the break is clean and the adjacent skin is not damaged.

(iii) Class II U.K.

This class includes apples which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

The flesh must be free from major defects.

The following defects may be allowed, provided the apples retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

• defects in shape,

• defects in development,

• defects in colouring,

• slight bruising not exceeding 1,5 cm ² in area which may be slightly discoloured,

• skin defects which must not extend over more than:

  • 4 cm in length for defects of elongated shape,

  • 2,5 cm ² of total surface area for other defects, with the exception of scab ( Venturia inaequalis ), which must not extend over more than 1 cm ² , cumulative, in area;

• slight russeting(5) such as

  • brown patches that may go beyond the stem or pistil cavities and may be slightly rough and/or

  • thin net-like russeting not exceeding 1/2 of the total fruit surface and not contrasting strongly with the general colouring of the fruit and/or

  • dense russeting not exceeding 1/3 of the total fruit surface, while

  • thin net-like russeting and dense russeting taken together may not exceed a maximum of 1/2 of the total surface of the fruit.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

Size is determined either by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section or by weight.

The minimum size shall be 60 mm, if measured by diameter or 90 g, if measured by weight. Fruit of smaller sizes may be accepted, if the Brix level(6) of the produce is equal to or greater than to 10,5° Brix and the size is not smaller than 50 mm or 70 g.

To ensure the uniformity in size, the range in size between produce in the same package shall not exceed:

(a)

for fruit sized by diameter:

• 5 mm for ‘Extra’ Class fruit and for Classes I and II fruit packed in rows and layers. However, for apples of the varieties Bramley's Seedling (Bramley, Triomphe de Kiel) and Horneburger, the difference in diameter may amount to 10 mm, and

• 10 mm for Class I fruit packed in sales packages or loose in the package. However, for apples of the varieties Bramley's Seedling (Bramley, Triomphe de Kiel) and Horneburger, the difference in diameter may amount to 20 mm.

(b)

for fruit sized by weight:

• For ‘Extra’ Class and Classes I and II apples packed in rows and layers:

  Range (g)	Weight difference (g)
  70-90	15 g
  91-135	20 g
  136-200	30 g
  201-300	40 g
  > 300	50 g

• For Class I fruit packed in sales packages or loose in the package:

  Range (g)	Uniformity (g)
  70-135	35
  136-300	70
  > 300	100

There is no sizing uniformity requirement for Class II fruit packed in sales packages or loose in the package.

Varieties of miniature apples, marked with an ‘M’ in the appendix to this standard, are exempted from the sizing provisions. Those miniature varieties must have a minimum Brix level(7) of 12°.

IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES U.K.

At all marketing stages, tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each lot for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.

A. Quality tolerances U.K.

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

A total tolerance of 5 per cent, by number or weight, of apples not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting those of Class I is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 0,5 per cent in total may consist of produce satisfying the requirements of Class II quality.

(ii) Class I U.K.

A total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of apples not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting those of Class II is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 1 per cent in total may consist of produce satisfying neither the requirements of Class II quality nor the minimum requirements, or of produce affected by decay.

(iii) Class II U.K.

A total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of apples satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 2 per cent in total may consist of produce affected by decay.

B. Size tolerances U.K.

For all classes: a total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of apples not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing is allowed. This tolerance may not be extended to include produce with a size:

• 5 mm or more below the minimum diameter,

• 10 g or more below the minimum weight.

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION U.K.

A. Uniformity U.K.

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only apples of the same origin, variety, quality and size (if sized) and the same degree of ripeness.

In the case of the ‘Extra’ Class, uniformity also applies to colouring.

However, a mixture of apples of distinctly different varieties may be packed together in a sales package provided they are uniform in quality and, for each variety concerned, in origin. Uniformity in size is not required.

The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents. Information lasered on single fruit should not lead to flesh or skin defects.

B. Packaging U.K.

The apples must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly. In particular, sales packages of a net weight exceeding 3 kg shall be sufficiently rigid to ensure proper protection of the produce.

The materials used inside the package must be clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.

Stickers individually affixed on the produce shall be such that, when removed, they neither leave visible traces of glue, nor lead to skin defects.

Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING U.K.

Each package(8) must bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside.

A. Identification U.K.

Name and physical address of the packer and/or the dispatcher (for example street/city/region/postal code and, if different from the country of origin, the country).

This mention may be replaced:

• for all packages with the exception of pre-packages, by the officially issued or accepted code mark representing the packer and/or the dispatcher, indicated in close connection with the reference ‘Packer and/or Dispatcher’ (or equivalent abbreviations). The code mark shall be preceded by the ISO 3166 (alpha) country/area code of the recognising country, if not the country of origin;

• for pre-packages only, by the name and the address of a seller established within the [F2 United Kingdom (or, until the end of the period [F3 beginning with 30 September 2022 and ending with 31 December 2023], within the United Kingdom or the EU)] indicated in close connection with the mention ‘Packed for:’ or an equivalent mention. In this case, the labelling shall also include a code representing the packer and/or the dispatcher. The seller shall give all information deemed necessary by the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Annex 1 Pt. B substituted (31.12.2020) by The Market Measures (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/822), regs. 1, 8(42)(b) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1405, regs. 1(2), 6(3)(b)(i) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1453, regs. 1(2)(b), 13(3)(b)(ii))); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Words in Annex 1 Pt. B Pt. 1 point 6(A) substituted (S.) (30.9.2022) by The Food Information (Transitional Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/265), regs. 1(1), 4(3)(b)(i); substituted (E.) (30.9.2022) by The Food Information (Amendment of Transitional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/938), regs. 1(1), 13(3)(b); and substituted (W.) by The Food Information (Amendment of Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/939), regs. 1(2), 13(3)(b)

B. Nature of produce U.K.

• ‘Apples’ if the contents are not visible from the outside.

• Name of the variety. In the case of a mixture of apples of distinctly different varieties, names of the different varieties.

  The name of the variety may be replaced by a synonym. A trade name(9) may only be given in addition to the variety or the synonym.

  In the case of mutants with varietal protection, this variety name may replace the basic variety name. In case of mutants without varietal protection, this mutant name may only be indicated in addition to the basic variety name.

• ‘Miniature variety’, where appropriate.

C. Origin of produce U.K.

Country of origin(10) and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.

In the case of a mixture of distinctly different varieties of apples of different origins, the indication of each country of origin shall appear next to the name of the variety concerned.

D. Commercial specifications U.K.

• Class

• Size, or for fruit packed in rows and layers, number of units.

If identification is by the size, this should be expressed:

(a)

for produce subject to the uniformity rules, as minimum and maximum diameters or minimum and maximum weights;

(b)

optionally, for produce not subject to the uniformity rules, as the diameter or the weight of the smallest fruit in the package followed by ‘and over’ or equivalent denomination or, where appropriate, followed by the diameter or weight of the largest fruit in the package.

E. Official control mark (optional) U.K.

Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the first subparagraph, when they contain sales packages, clearly visible from the outside, and all bearing these particulars. These packages shall be free from any indications such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised, the particulars shall be given on a notice placed in an obvious position on at least two sides of the pallet.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/428 of 12 July 2018 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 as regards marketing standards in the fruit and vegetables sector.

(1)

[F1 A non-exhaustive list of varieties providing a classification on colouring and russeting is set out in the appendix to this standard.]

(2)

[F1 Varieties marked with ‘ R ’ in the appendix to this standard are exempt from the provisions on russeting.]

(3)

[F1 A non-exhaustive list of varieties providing a classification on colouring and russeting is set out in the appendix to this standard.]

(4)

[F1 Varieties marked with ‘ R ’ in the appendix to this standard are exempt from the provisions on russeting.]

(5)

[F1 Varieties marked with ‘ R ’ in the appendix to this standard are exempt from the provisions on russeting.]

(6)

[F1 Calculated as described in the OECD guidance on objective tests, available at: http://www.oecd.org/agriculture/fruit-vegetables/publications.]

(7)

[F1 Calculated as described in the OECD guidance on objective tests, available at: http://www.oecd.org/agriculture/fruit-vegetables/publications.]

(8)

[F1 These marking provisions do not apply to sales packages presented in packages. However, they do apply to sales packages presented separately.]

(9)

[F1 A trade name can be a trade mark for which protection has been sought or obtained or any other commercial denomination.]

(10)

[F1 The full or commonly used name shall be indicated.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/428 of 12 July 2018 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 as regards marketing standards in the fruit and vegetables sector.