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

[F1 PART 4: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR LETTUCES, CURLED-LEAVED ENDIVES AND BROAD-LEAVED (BATAVIAN) ENDIVES

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

This standard applies to

• lettuces of varieties (cultivars) grown from:

  • Lactuca sativa var. capitata L. (head lettuces including crisphead and ‘Iceberg’ type lettuces),

  • Lactuca sativa var. longifolia Lam. (cos or romaine lettuces),

  • Lactuca sativa var. crispa L. (leaf lettuces),

  • crosses of these varieties and

• curled-leaved endives of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia var. crispum Lam. and

• broad-leaved (Batavian) endives (escaroles) of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia var. latifolium Lam.

to be supplied fresh to the consumer.

This standard does not apply to produce for industrial processing, produce presented as individual leaves, lettuces with root ball or lettuces in pots.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

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

• 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 produce must be:

• intact,

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

• clean and trimmed, i.e. practically free from all earth or other growing medium and practically free of any visible foreign matter,

• fresh in appearance,

• practically free from pests,

• practically free from damage caused by pests,

• turgescent,

• not running to seed,

• free of abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

In the case of lettuce, a reddish discolouration, caused by low temperature during growth, is allowed, unless it seriously affects the appearance of the lettuce.

The roots must be cut close to the base of the outer leaves and the cut must be neat.

The produce must be of normal development. The development and condition of the produce must be such as to enable it:

• to withstand transportation and handling, and

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

B. Classification U.K.

The produce is classified in two classes, as defined below:

(i) Class I U.K.

Produce in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type.

The produce must also be:

• well formed,

• firm, taking into account the cultivation methods and the type of produce,

• free from damage or deterioration impairing edibility,

• free from frost damage.

Head lettuces must have a single well-formed heart. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, the heart may be small.

Cos lettuces must have a heart, which may be small.

The centre of curled-leaved endives and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives must be yellow in colour.

(ii) Class II U.K.

This class includes produce which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

The produce must be:

• reasonably well-formed,

• free from damage and deterioration which may seriously impair edibility.

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

• slight discolouration,

• slight damage caused by pests.

Head lettuces must have a heart, which may be small. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, absence of heart is permissible.

Cos lettuces may show no heart.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

Size is determined by the weight of one unit.

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

(a)

Lettuces

• 40 g when the lightest unit weighs less than 150 g per unit,

• 100 g when the lightest unit weighs between 150 g and 300 g per unit,

• 150 g when the lightest unit weighs between 300 g and 450 g per unit,

• 300 g when the lightest unit weighs more than 450 g per unit.

(b)

Curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives

• 300 g.

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) Class I U.K.

A total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number, of produce 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.

(ii) Class II U.K.

A total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number, of produce 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, of produce 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 produce of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size.

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

The produce must be packed in such a way as to protect it properly. It must be reasonably packed having regard to the size and type of packaging, without empty spaces or crushing.

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.

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. 4 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)(iv); 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.

• ‘Lettuces’, ‘butterhead lettuces’, ‘batavia’, ‘crisphead lettuces (Iceberg)’, ‘cos lettuces’, ‘leaf lettuce’ (or, for example and where appropriate, ‘Oak leaf’, ‘Lollo bionda’, ‘Lollo rossa’),‘curled-leaved endives’, ‘broad-leaved (Batavian) endives’, or equivalent denomination if the contents are not visible from the outside.

• ‘Grown under protection’, or equivalent denomination where appropriate.

• Name of the variety (optional).

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

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 lettuces and/or endives of distinctly different varieties, commercial types and/or colours of different origins, the indication of each country of origin shall appear next to the name of the variety, commercial type and/or colour concerned.

D. Commercial specifications U.K.

• Class

• Size, expressed by the minimum weight per unit, or number of units

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.