Definition Of Produce

·       This Standard Applies To Modified Stem Of Commercial Varieties Of Nopals Grown From Opuntia Ficus Indica, O. Tomentosa, O. Hyptiacantha, O. Robusta, O. Inermis, O. Ondulata, Of The Cactaceae Family, To Be Supplied Fresh To The Consumer, After Preparation And Packaging. Nopals For Industrial Processing Are Excluded.

Provisions Concerning Quality

·       Minimum Requirements :-

In All Classes, Subject To The Special Provisions For Each Class And The Tolerances Allowed, The Nopals Must Be:

·       Whole;

·       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 Of Damage Caused By Pests;

·       Free Of Abnormal External Moisture, Excluding Condensation Following Removal From Cold Storage;

·       Free Of Any Foreign Smell And/Or Taste;

·       Firm;

·       Free Of Damage Caused By Low Temperatures;

·       Free Of Prickles;

·       Free Of Pronounced Blemishes;

·       Sufficiently Developed And Display Satisfactory Ripeness, Depending On The Nature Of The Produce.

The Development And Condition Of The Nopals Must Be Such As To Enable Them

·       To Withstand Transport And Handling; 

·       To Arrive In Satisfactory Condition At The Place Of Destination.

Classification :-

·       Nopals Are Classified In Three Classes Defined Below:

“Extra” Class :-

·       Nopals In This Class Must Be Of Superior Quality. They Must Be Characteristic Of The Variety And/Or Commercial Type. They Must Be Free Of Defects, With The Exception Of Very Slight Superficial Defects, Provided These Do Not Affect The General Appearance Of The Produce, The Quality, The Keeping Quality And Presentation In The Package.

Class I :-

·       Nopals In This Class Must Be Of Good Quality. They Must Be Characteristic Of The Variety And/Or Commercial Type. 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:

·       Slight Defects In Shape And Colour;

·       Slight Skin Defects Such As Bruising, Scarring, Crusting, Blemishes Or Other Superficial Defects. The Total Area Affected Shall Not Exceed 5%.

Class Ii :-

·       This Class Includes Nopals Which Do Not Qualify For Inclusion In The Higher Classes, But Satisfy The Minimum Requirements . They Must Be Characteristic Of The Variety And/Or Commercial Type. The Following Defects, However, May Be Allowed, Provided The Nopals Retain Their Essential Characteristics As Regards The Quality, The Keeping Quality And Presentation:

·       Defects In Shape And Colour, As Long As The Produce Has The Characteristics Common To Nopals;

·       Skin Defects Due To Bruising, Scarring, Crusting, Spots Or Other Defects. The Total Area Affected Shall Not Exceed 10%.

Provisions Concerning Sizing

·       Size Is Determined By The Length Of The Nopal, In Accordance With The Following Table:

Size Code

Length (In Centimetres)

A

9 – 13

B

13 – 17

C

17 – 21

D

21 – 25

E

25 – 30

Provisions Concerning Tolerances

·       Tolerances In Respect Of Quality And Size Shall Be Allowed In Each Package For Produce Not Satisfying The Requirements Of The Class Indicated.

Quality Tolerances :-

·       “Extra” Class Five Percent By Number Or Weight Of Nopals Not Satisfying The Requirements Of The Class, But Meeting Those Of Class I Or, Exceptionally, Coming Within The Tolerances Of That Class.

·       Class I Ten Percent By Number Or Weight Of Nopals Not Satisfying The Requirements Of The Class, But Meeting Those Of Class Ii Or, Exceptionally, Coming Within The Tolerances Of That Class.

·       Class Ii Ten Percent By Number Or Weight Of Nopals Satisfying Neither The Requirements Of The Class Nor The Minimum Requirements, With The Exception Of Produce Affected By Rotting, Pronounced Irregularities Or Any Other Deterioration Rendering It Unfit For Consumption.

·       Size Tolerances For “Extra” Class, 5%; And For Class I Or Class Ii, 10%; By Number Or Weight Of Nopals Not Satisfying The Requirements As Regards Sizing, But Falling Within The Class Immediately Above Or Below Those Indicated

Provisions Concerning Presentation

Uniformity :-

·       The Contents Of Each Package (Or Lot For Produce Presented In Bulk) Must Be Uniform And Contain Only Nopals Of The Same Origin, Variety, Quality And Size. For “Extra” Class, Colour And Ripeness Should Be Uniform. The Visible Part Of The Contents Of The Package (Or Lot For Produce Presented In Bulk) Must Be Representative Of The Entire Contents.

Packaging :-

·       Nopals Must Be Packed In Such A Way As To Protect The Produce Properly. The Materials Used Inside The Package Must Be New , 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.

·       Nopals Shall Be Packed In Each Container In Compliance With The Recommended International Code Of Practice For Packaging And Transport Of Fresh Fruits And Vegetables (Cac/Rcp 44-1995).

Description Of Containers :-

·       The Containers Shall Meet The Quality, Hygiene, Ventilation And Resistance Characteristics To Ensure Suitable Handling, Shipping And Preserving Of The Nopals. Packages (Or Lot For Produce Presented In Bulk) Must Be Free Of All Foreign Matter And Smell.

Marking Or Labelling

Consumer Packages :-

·       In Addition To The Requirements Of The Codex General Standard For The Labelling Of Prepackaged Foods (Codex Stan 1-1985), The Following Specific Provisions Apply:

Nature Of Produce :-

·       If The Produce Is Not Visible From The Outside, Each Package Shall Be Labelled As To The Name Of The Produce And May Be Labelled As To Name Of The Variety.

Non-Retail Containers :-

·       Each Package Must Bear The Following Particulars, In Letters Grouped On The Same Side, Legibly And Indelibly Marked, And Visible From The Outside, Or In The Documents Accompanying The Shipment. For Produce Transported In Bulk These Particulars Must Appear On A Document Accompanying The Goods.

Identification :-

·       Name And Address Of Exporter, Packer And/Or Dispatcher. Identification Code (Optional) 

Nature Of Produce 2 . :-

·       Name Of The Produce If The Contents Are Not Visible From The Outside. Name Of The Variety Or Commercial Type (Optional).

Origin Of Produce :-

·       Country Of Origin And, Optionally, District Where Grown Or National, Regional Or Local Place Name.

Commercial Identification :-

·       Class;

·       Size (Size Code Or Lenght Range In Centimetres);

·       Number Of Units (Optional);

·       Net Weight (Optional).

Contaminants

·       The Produce Covered By This Standard Shall Comply With The Maximum Levels Of The Codex General Standard For Contaminants And Toxins In Food And Feed (Codex Stan 193-1995).

·       The Produce Covered By This Standard Shall Comply With The Maximum Residue Limits For Pesticides Established By The Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Hygiene

·       It Is Recommended That The Produce Covered By The Provisions Of This Standard Be Prepared And Handled In Accordance With The Appropriate Sections Of The Recommended International Code Of Practice – General Principles Of Food Hygiene (Cac/Rcp 1-1969), Code Of Hygienic Practice For Fresh Fruits And Vegetables (Cac/Rcp 53-2003), And Other Relevant Codex Texts Such As Codes Of Hygienic Practice And Codes Of Practice.

·       The Produce Should Comply With Any Microbiological Criteria Established In Accordance With The Principles For The Establishment And Application Of Microbiological Criteria For Foods (Cac/Gl 21-1997).