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

[F1 PART 10: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR TOMATOES

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

This standard applies to tomatoes of varieties (cultivars) grown from Solanum lycopersicum L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, tomatoes for industrial processing being excluded.

Tomatoes may be classified into four commercial types:

• ‘round’,

• ‘ribbed’,

• ‘oblong’ or ‘elongated’,

• ‘cherry/cocktail’ tomatoes (miniature varieties) of all shapes.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for tomatoes, 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, the tomatoes 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,

• fresh in appearance,

• practically free from pests,

• free from damage caused by pests affecting the flesh,

• free of abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

In the case of trusses of tomatoes, the stalks must be fresh, healthy, clean and free from all leaves and any visible foreign matter.

The development and condition of the tomatoes 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 development and state of maturity of the tomatoes must be such as to enable them to continue their ripening process and to reach a satisfactory degree of ripeness.

C. Classification U.K.

Tomatoes are classified in three classes, as defined below:

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

Tomatoes in this class must be of superior quality. They must be firm and characteristic of the variety.

They must be free from greenbacks and other 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.

(ii) Class I U.K.

Tomatoes in this class must be of good quality. They must be reasonably firm and characteristic of the variety.

They must be free of cracks and visible greenbacks.

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 and development,

• slight defects in colouring,

• slight skin defects,

• very slight bruises.

Furthermore, ‘ribbed’ tomatoes may show:

• healed cracks not more than 1 cm long,

• no excessive protuberances,

• small umbilicus, but no suberisation,

• suberisation of the stigma up to 1 cm ² ,

• fine blossom scar in elongated form (like a seam), but not longer than two-thirds of the greatest diameter of the fruit.

(iii) Class II U.K.

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

They must be reasonably firm (but may be slightly less firm than in Class I) and must not show unhealed cracks.

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

• defects in shape and development,

• defects in colouring,

• skin defects or bruises, provided the fruit is not seriously affected,

• healed cracks not more than 3 cm in length for round, ribbed or oblong tomatoes.

Furthermore, ‘ribbed’ tomatoes may show:

• more pronounced protuberances than allowed under Class I, but without being misshapen,

• an umbilicus,

• suberisation of the stigma up to 2 cm ² ,

• fine blossom scar in elongated form (like a seam).

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

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

The following provisions shall not apply to trusses of tomatoes and are optional for:

• cherry and cocktail tomatoes below 40 mm in diameter;

• ribbed tomatoes of irregular shape; and

• Class II.

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

(a)

For tomatoes sized by diameter:

• 10 mm, if the diameter of the smallest fruit (as indicated on the package) is under 50 mm,

• 15 mm, if the diameter of the smallest fruit (as indicated on the package) is 50 mm and over but under 70 mm,

• 20 mm, if the diameter of the smallest fruit (as indicated on the package) is 70 mm and over but under 100 mm,

• there is no limitation of difference in diameter for fruit equal or over 100 mm.

In case size codes are applied, the codes and ranges in the following table have to be respected:

Size code	Diameter (mm)
0	≤ 20
1	> 20 ≤ 25
2	> 25 ≤ 30
3	> 30 ≤ 35
4	> 35 ≤ 40
5	> 40 ≤ 47
6	> 47 ≤ 57
7	> 57 ≤ 67
8	> 67 ≤ 82
9	> 82 ≤ 102
10	> 102

(b)

For tomatoes sized by weight or by count, the difference in size should be consistent with the difference indicated in point (a).

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 tomatoes 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 tomatoes 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 neither satisfying the requirements of Class II quality nor the minimum requirements, or of produce affected by decay.

In the case of trusses of tomatoes, 5 percent, by number or weight, of tomatoes detached from the stalk is allowed.

(iii) Class II U.K.

A total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of tomatoes 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.

In the case of trusses of tomatoes, 10 percent, by number or weight, of tomatoes detached from the stalk is allowed.

B. Size tolerances U.K.

For all classes: a total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of tomatoes not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing is allowed.

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION U.K.

A. Uniformity U.K.

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only tomatoes of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size (if sized).

The ripeness and colouring of tomatoes in ‘Extra’ Class and Class I must be practically uniform. In addition, the length of ‘oblong’ tomatoes must be sufficiently uniform.

However, a mixture of tomatoes of distinctly different colours, varieties and/or commercial types may be packed together in a package, provided they are uniform in quality and, for each colour, variety and/or commercial type 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.

B. Packaging U.K.

Tomatoes must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly.

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 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 to the produce shall be such that, when removed, they neither leave visible traces of glue nor lead to skin defects. Information lasered on single fruitshould not lead to flesh or skin defects.

Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING U.K.

Each package(1) 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. 10 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)(x); 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.

• ‘Tomatoes’ or ‘trusses of tomatoes’ and the commercial type, or ‘cherry/cocktail tomatoes’ or ‘trusses of cherry/cocktail tomatoes’) or equivalent denomination for other miniature varieties if the contents are not visible from the outside.

• ‘Mixture of tomatoes’, or equivalent denomination, in the case of a mixture of distinctly different varieties, commercial types and/or colours of tomatoes. If the produce is not visible from the outside, the colours, varieties or commercial types and the quantity of each in the package must be indicated.

• Name of the variety (optional).

C. Origin of produce U.K.

Country of origin(2) and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.

In the case of a mixture of distinctly different colours, varieties and/or commercial types of tomatoes of different origins, the indication of each country of origin shall appear next to the name of the colour, variety and/or commercial type concerned.

D. Commercial specifications U.K.

• Class.

• Size (if sized) expressed as

  • minimum and maximum diameters; or

  • minimum and maximum weights; or

  • size code as specified in Section III; or

  • count followed by the minimum and maximum sizes.

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

(2)

[F1 The full or the 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.