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

[F1 PART 5: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR PEACHES AND NECTARINES

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

This standard applies to peaches and nectarines of varieties (cultivars) grown from Prunus persica Sieb. and Zucc., to be supplied fresh to the consumer, peaches and nectarines for industrial processing being excluded.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for peaches and nectarines, 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, peaches and nectarines 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 of fruit split at the stalk cavity,

• free of abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

The development and condition of peaches and nectarines 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 fruit must be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness. The minimum refractometric index of the flesh should be greater than or equal to 8° Brix(1).

C. Classification U.K.

Peaches and nectarines are classified into three classes, as defined below:

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

Peaches and nectarines in this class must be of a superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety.

The flesh must be perfectly sound.

They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects, provided that 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.

Peaches and nectarines in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety. 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,

• slight defects in colouring,

• slight pressure marks not exceeding 1cm ² in total surface area,

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

  • 1,5 cm in length for defects of elongated shape,

  • 1 cm ² in total surface area for other defects.

(iii) Class II U.K.

This class includes peaches and nectarines 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 peaches and nectarines retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

• defects in shape,

• defects in development, including split stones, provided the fruit is closed and the flesh is sound,

• defects in colouring,

• bruises which may be slightly discoloured and not exceeding 2 cm ² in total surface area,

• skin defects which must not extend over more than

  • 2,5 cm in length for defects of elongated shape,

  • 2 cm ² in total surface area for other defects.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

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

The minimum size shall be:

• 56 mm or 85 g in Class ‘Extra’,

• 51 mm or 65 g in Classes I and II.

However, fruit below 56 mm or 85 g, is not marketed in the period from 1 July to 31 October (northern hemisphere) and from 1 January to 30 April (southern hemisphere).

The following provisions are optional for Class II.

To ensure 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 fruit below 70 mm,

• 10 mm for fruit of 70 mm and more.

(b)

For fruit sized by weight:

• 30 g for fruit below 180 g,

• 80 g for fruit of 180 g and more.

(c)

For fruit sized by count, the difference in size should be consistent with (a) or (b).

If size codes are applied, those in the table below have to be respected.

	code	Diameter			weight
		from	To		from	to
		(mm)	(mm)		(g)	(g)
1	D	51	56	or	65	85
2	C	56	61		85	105
3	B	61	67		105	135
4	A	67	73		135	180
5	AA	73	80		180	220
6	AAA	80	90		220	300
7	AAAA	> 90			> 300

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 for 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 peaches or nectarines 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 peaches or nectarines 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 peaches or nectarines 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 (if sized): a total tolerance of 10 per cent, by number or weight, of peaches or nectarines 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 peaches or nectarines of the same origin, variety, quality, degree of ripeness and size (if sized), and for the ‘Extra’ Class, the contents must also be uniform in colouring.

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

B. Packaging U.K.

The peaches or nectarines 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 defect.

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. 5 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)(v); 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.

• ‘Peaches’ or ‘Nectarines’, if the contents are not visible from the outside.

• Colour of the flesh.

• Name of the variety (optional).

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 (if sized) expressed as minimum and maximum diameters (in mm) or minimum and maximum weights (in g) or as size code.

• Number of units (optional).

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 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.