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

[F1 PART A U.K. General marketing standard

The purpose of this general marketing standard is to define the quality requirements for fruit and vegetables, 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.

1. Minimum requirements U.K.

Subject to the tolerances allowed, the products shall be:

• intact,

• sound; products affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make them unfit for consumption are 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 condition of the products must be such as to enable them:

• to withstand transportation and handling,

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

2. Minimum maturity requirements U.K.

The products must be sufficiently developed, but not over-developed, and fruit must display satisfactory ripeness and must not be overripe.

The development and state of maturity of the products must be such as to enable them to continue their ripening process and to reach a satisfactory degree of ripeness.

3. Tolerance U.K.

A tolerance of 10 % by number or weight of product not satisfying the minimum quality requirements shall be permitted in each lot. Within this tolerance not more than 2 per cent in total may consist of produce affected by decay.

4. 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. A point 4(A) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Market Measures (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/822), regs. 1, 8(42)(a)(i) (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. A point 4(A) 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)(a); substituted (W.) by The Food Information (Amendment of Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/939), regs. 1(2), 13(3)(a); and substituted (S.) by The Food Information (Transitional Provisions) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/265), regs. 1(1), 4(3)(a)

B. Origin U.K.

Full name of the country of origin(2). For products originating in [F4 Great Britain] this shall be in [F5 English] or any other language understandable by the consumers of the country of destination. For other products, this shall be in any language understandable by the consumers of the country of destination.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in Annex 1 Pt. A point 4(B) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Market Measures (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/822), regs. 1, 8(42)(a)(ii)(aa) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1453, regs. 1(2)(b), 10(14)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Word in Annex 1 Pt. A point 4(B) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Market Measures (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/822), regs. 1, 8(42)(a)(ii)(bb); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

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 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.