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

[F1 PART 3: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR KIWIFRUIT

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

This standard applies to kiwifruit (also known as Actinidia or kiwi) of varieties (cultivars) grown from Actinidia chinensis Planch. and Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.), C.F. Liang and A.R. Ferguson to be supplied fresh to the consumer, kiwifruit for industrial processing being excluded.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for kiwifruit, 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 kiwifruit must be:

• intact (but free of peduncle),

• 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,

• adequately firm; not soft, shrivelled or water-soaked,

• well formed, double/multiple fruit being excluded,

• free of abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

The development and condition of the kiwifruit must be such as to enable it:

• to withstand transportation and handling, and

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

B. Minimum maturity requirements U.K.

The kiwifruit must be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness.

In order to satisfy this requirement, the fruit at packing must have attained a degree of ripeness of at least 6,2° Brix(1) or an average dry matter content of 15 %, which should lead to 9,5° Brix(1) when entering the distribution chain.

C. Classification U.K.

Kiwifruit is classified in three classes as defined below.

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

Kiwifruit in this class must be of superior quality. It must be characteristics of the variety.

The fruit must be firm and the flesh must be perfectly sound.

It 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.

The ratio of the minimum/maximum diameter of the fruit measured at the equatorial section must be 0,8 or greater.

(ii) Class I U.K.

Kiwifruit in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety.

The fruit must be firm and 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 (but free of swelling or malformations),

• slight defects in colouring,

• slight skin defects, provided the total area affected does not exceed 1 cm ² ,

• small ‘Hayward mark’ like longitudinal lines and without protuberance.

The ratio of the minimum/maximum diameter of the fruit measured at the equatorial section must be 0,7 or greater.

(iii) Class II U.K.

This class includes kiwifruit that does not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes, but satisfies the minimum requirements specified above.

The fruit must be reasonably firm and the flesh should not show any serious defects.

The following defects may be allowed provided the kiwifruit retains its essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

• defects in shape,

• defects in colouring,

• skin defects such as small healed cuts or scarred/grazed tissue, provided that the total area affected does not exceed 2 cm ² ,

• several more pronounced ‘Hayward marks’ with a slight protuberance,

• slight bruising.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

Size is determined by the weight of the fruit.

The minimum weight for ‘Extra’ Class is 90 g, for Class I is 70 g and for Class II is 65 g.

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

• 10 g for fruit of weight up to 85 g,

• 15 g for fruit weighing between 85 g and 120 g,

• 20 g for fruit weighing between 120 g and 150 g,

• 40 g for fruit weighing 150 g or more.

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 kiwifruit 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 kiwifruit 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 kiwifruit 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 %, by number or weight, of kiwifruit not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing is allowed.

However, the kiwifruit must not weigh less than 85 g in ‘Extra’ Class, 67 g in Class I and 62 g in Class II.

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION U.K.

A. Uniformity U.K.

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only kiwifruit of the same origin, variety, quality and size.

The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.

B. Packaging U.K.

The kiwifruit 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 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 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 fruit should not lead to flesh or skin defects.

Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING U.K.

Each package(2) 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. 3 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)(iii); 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.

• ‘Kiwifruit’ and/or ‘Actinidia’, if the contents are not visible from the outside.

• Name of the variety (optional).

• Flesh colour or equivalent indication, if not green.

C. Origin of produce U.K.

Country of origin(3) and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.

D. Commercial specifications U.K.

• Class.

• Size expressed by the minimum and maximum weight of the fruit.

• Number of fruits (optional).

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

Packages need not 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 Calculated as described in the OECD guidance on objective tests, available at: http://www.oecd.org/agriculture/fruit-vegetables/publications.]

(2)

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

(3)

[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.