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

[F1 PART 6: U.K. MARKETING STANDARD FOR PEARS

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE U.K.

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

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY U.K.

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for pears, 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, pears 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 abnormal external moisture,

• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

The development and condition of the pears 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 pears 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.

C. Classification U.K.

Pears are classified in three classes, as defined below:

(i) ‘ Extra ’ Class U.K.

Pears in this class must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety (1) .

The flesh must be perfectly sound, and the skin free from rough russeting.

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

The stalk must be intact.

Pears must not be gritty.

(ii) Class I U.K.

Pears in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety. (2)

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,

• very slight rough russeting,

• 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 pirina and V. inaequalis ), which must not extend over more than 0,25 cm ² cumulative in area.

• slight bruising not exceeding 1 cm ² in area.

The stalk may be slightly damaged.

Pears must not be gritty.

(iii) Class II U.K.

This class includes pears that 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 pears retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation.

• defects in shape,

• defects in development,

• defects in colouring,

• slight rough russeting,

• 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 pirina and V. inaequalis ), which must not extend over more than 1 cm ² cumulative in area,

  • slight bruising not exceeding 2 cm ² in area.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING U.K.

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

The minimum size shall be:

(a)

For fruit sized by diameter:

	‘Extra’	Class I	Class II
Large-fruited varieties	60 mm	55 mm	55 mm
Other varieties	55 mm	50 mm	45 mm

(b)

For fruit sized by weight:

	‘Extra’	Class I	Class II
Large-fruited varieties	130 g	110 g	110 g
Other varieties	110 g	100 g	75 g

Summer pears included in the appendix to this standard do not have to respect the minimum size.

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 Class I and II fruit packed in rows and layers

• 10 mm for Class I fruit packed in sales packages or loose in the package.

(b)

For fruit sized by weight:

• for ‘ Extra ’ Class fruit and Class I and II fruit packed in rows and layers:

  Range (g)	Weight difference (g)
  75 – 100	15
  100 – 200	35
  200 – 250	50
  > 250	80

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

  Range (g)	Weight difference (g)
  100 – 200	50
  > 200	100

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

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 pears 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 pears 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 pears 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 pears 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 pears 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 pears 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.

B. Packaging U.K.

Pears 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 on 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 (3) 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 Union 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.

B. Nature of produce U.K.

• ‘ Pears ’ , if the contents of the package are not visible from the outside.

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

• The name of the variety may be replaced by a synonym. A trade name (4) may only be given in addition to the variety or the synonym.

C. Origin of produce U.K.

Country of origin (5) and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.

In the case of a mixture of distinctly different varieties of pears 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, the diameter or the 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 large fruited and summer pear varieties is included in the appendix to this standard.]

(2)

[F1 A non-exhaustive list of large fruited and summer pear varieties is included in the appendix to this standard.]

(3)

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

(4)

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

(5)

[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.