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

ANNEX V METHODS OF INSPECTION REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 17(1)

The following methods of inspection are based on the provisions of the guide for the implementation of quality control of fresh fruit and vegetables adopted by the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables.

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1. Package

Individually packaged part of a lot, including contents. The packaging is conceived so as to facilitate handling and transport of a number of sales packages or of products loose or arranged, in order to prevent damage by physical handling and transport. The package may constitute a sales package. Road, rail, ship and air containers are not considered as packages.

1.2. Sales package

Individually packaged part of a lot, including contents. The packaging of sales packages is conceived so as to constitute a sales unit to the final user or consumer at the point of purchase.

1.3. Pre-packages

Pre-packages are sales packages such as the packaging enclosing the foodstuff completely or only partially, but in such a way that the contents cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging. Protective films covering single produce are not considered as a pre-package.

1.4. Consignment

Quantity of produce to be sold by a given trader found at the time of inspection and defined by a document. A consignment may consist of one or several types of produce; it may contain one or several lots of fresh, dry or dried fruit and vegetables.

1.5. Lot

Quantity of produce which, at the time of inspection at one place, has similar characteristics with regard to:

• packer and/or dispatcher,

• country of origin,

• nature of produce,

• class of produce,

• size (if the produce is graded according to size),

• variety or commercial type (according to the relevant provisions of the standard),

• type of packaging and presentation.

However, if during the conformity check of consignments as defined in point 1.4 it is difficult to distinguish between different lots and/or presentation of individual lots is not possible, all lots of a specific consignment may be treated as one lot if they are similar in regard to type of produce, dispatcher, country of origin, class and variety or commercial type, if this is provided for in the relevant marketing standard.

1.6. Sampling

Collective samples taken temporarily from a lot during conformity check.

1.7. Primary sample

Package taken at random from the lot, in case of packed produce or, in case of bulk produce (direct loading into a transport vehicle or compartment thereof), a quantity taken at random from a point in the lot.

1.8. Bulk sample

Several primary samples supposed to be representative for the lot so that the total quantity is sufficient to allow the assessment of the lot with regard to all criteria.

1.9. Secondary sample

An equal quantity of produce taken at random from the primary sample.

In the case of packed nuts, the secondary sample shall weigh between 300 g and 1 kg. If the primary sample is made up of packages containing sales packages, the secondary sample shall be one or more sales packages that in aggregate are at least 300 g.

In the case of other packed produce, the secondary sample shall comprise of 30 units, in case the net weight of the package is 25 kg or less and the package does not contain any sales packages. In certain cases this means that the whole content of the package has to be checked, if the primary sample contains not more than 30 units.

1.10. Composite sample (dry and dried produce only)

A composite sample is a mix, weighing at least 3 kg, of all the secondary samples taken from the bulk sample. Produce in the composite sample shall be evenly mixed.

1.11. Reduced sample

Quantity of produce taken at random from the bulk or composite sample having a size which is restricted to the minimum quantity necessary but sufficient to allow the assessment of certain individual criteria.

If the inspection method would destroy the produce, the size of the reduced sample shall not exceed 10 % of the bulk sample or, in the case of nuts in shell, 100 nuts taken from the composite sample. In the case of small dry or dried products (i.e. 100 g include more than 100 units) the reduced sample shall not exceed 300 g.

For the assessment of criteria on the degree of the development and/or ripeness, the constitution of the sampling shall be done according to the objective methods described in the Guidance on Objective Tests to Determine Quality of Fruit and Vegetables and Dry and Dried Produce.

Several reduced samples may be taken from a bulk or composite sample in order to check the conformity of the lot against different criteria.

2. IMPLEMENTATION OF CONFORMITY CHECK

2.1. General remark

A conformity check shall be made by assessing samples taken at random from different points in the lot to be controlled. It is based on the principle of presumption that the quality of the samples is representative of the quality of the lot.

2.2. Place of control

A conformity check may be carried out during packing operation, at the point of dispatch, during transport, at the point of reception, at whole sale and retail level.

In cases where the inspection body does not carry out the conformity check in their own premises, the holder shall provide facilities enabling the conduct of a conformity check.

2.3. Identification of lots and/or getting a general impression of the consignment

The identification of lots shall be carried out on the basis of their marking or other criteria, such as the indications laid down under Council Directive 89/396/EEC(1). In the case of consignments which are made up of several lots it is necessary for the inspector to get a general impression of the consignment with the aid of accompanying documents or declarations concerning the consignments. The inspector shall then determine how far the lots presented comply with the information in these documents.

If the produce is to be or has been loaded onto a means of transport, the registration number of the latter shall be used for identification of the consignment.

2.4. Presentation of produce

The inspector shall decide which packages are to be checked. The presentation shall be made by the operator and shall include the presentation of the bulk sample as well as the supply of all information necessary for the identification of the consignment or lot.

If reduced or secondary samples are required, these shall be identified by the inspector from the bulk sample.

2.5. Physical check

• Assessment of packaging and presentation:

  The packaging, including the material used within the package, shall be tested for suitability and cleanness according to the provisions of the relevant marketing standard. This shall be done on the basis of primary samples, in case of packed produce and in all other cases on the basis of the transport vehicle. If only certain types of packaging or presentation are permitted, the inspector shall check whether these are being used.

• Verification of marking:

  The inspector shall check whether the produce is marked according to the relevant marketing standard. This shall include a check on the accuracy of marking and/or the extent of any amendments required.

  In case of packed produce, this check shall be carried out on the basis of the primary samples, in all other cases on the basis of the documents attached to the pallet or the transport vehicle.

  Fruit and vegetables individually wrapped in plastic shall not be considered as pre-packed foodstuff in the meaning of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/13/EC and shall not necessarily need to be marked in accordance with the marketing standards. In such cases, the plastic wrapping may be considered as a simple protection for fragile products.

• Verification of conformity of the produce:

  The inspector shall determine the size of the bulk sample in such way as to be able to assess the lot. The inspector selects at random the packages to be inspected or in the case of bulk produce the points of the lot from which individual samples shall be taken.

  Care shall be taken to ensure that the removal of samples does not adversely affect the quality of the produce.

  Damaged packages shall not be used as part of the bulk sample. They shall be set aside and may, if necessary, be subject to a separate examination and report.

  The bulk sample shall comprise the following minimum quantities whenever a lot is declared unsatisfactory or the risk of a produce not conforming to the marketing standard has to be examined:

  Packed produce
  Number of packages in the lot	Number of packages to be taken (primary samples)
  Up to 100	5
  From 101 to 300	7
  From 301 to 500	9
  From 501 to 1 000	10
  More than 1 000	15 (minimum)

  Produce in bulk(direct loading into a transport vehicle or compartment thereof)
  Quantity of lot in kg or number of bundles in the lot	Quantity of primary samples in kg or number of bundles
  Up to 200	10
  From 201 to 500	20
  From 501 to 1 000	30
  From 1 001 to 5 000	60
  More than 5 000	100 (minimum)

  In the case of bulky fruit and vegetables (over 2 kg per unit), the primary samples shall be made up of at least five units. In the case of lots comprising fewer than 5 packages or weighing less than 10 kg, the check shall cover the entire lot.

  If the inspector discovers, after an inspection, that a decision cannot be reached, another physical check shall be undertaken and the overall result reported as an average of the two checks.

2.6. Control of produce

In case of packed produce, the primary samples shall be used to check the general appearance of the produce, the presentation, the cleanliness of the packages and the labelling. In all other cases, these checks shall be done on basis of the lot or transport vehicle.

The produce shall be removed entirely from its packaging for the conformity check. The inspector may only dispense with this where the sampling is based on composite samples.

The inspection of uniformity, minimum requirements, quality classes and size shall be carried out on the basis of the bulk sample, or on the basis of the composite sample taking into account the explanatory brochures published by the OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables.

When defects are detected, the inspector shall ascertain the respective percentage of the produce not in conformity with the standard by number or weight.

External defects shall be checked on the basis of the bulk or composite sample. Certain criteria on the degree of development and/or ripeness or on the presence or absence of internal defects may be checked on the basis of reduced samples. The check based on the reduced sample applies in particular to checks which destroy the trade value of the produce.

The criteria on the degree of development and/or ripeness shall be checked using the instruments and methods laid down to this end in the relevant marketing standard or in accordance with the Guidance on Objective Tests to Determine Quality of Fruit and Vegetables and Dry and Dried Produce.

2.7. Report of control results

Documents mentioned in Article 14 shall be issued, where appropriate.

If defects are found leading to non-conformity, the trader or his representative shall be informed in writing about these defects and the percentage found as well as the reasons for non-conformity. If the compliance of produce with the standard is possible by a change in marking, the trader or his representative shall be informed.

If defects are found in a product, the percentage found not to be in conformity with the standard shall be indicated.

2.8. Decline in value by conformity check

After the conformity check, the bulk or composite sample is put at the disposal of the operator or his representative.

The inspection body shall not be bound to hand back the elements of the bulk or composite sample destroyed during the conformity check.

(1)

OJ L 186, 30.6.1989, p. 21.