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DEFINITION
OF PRODUCE |
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THIS STANDARD
APPLIES TO TUBERS FROM COMMERCIAL VARIETIES OF YAM OF THE DIOSCOREACEAE
FAMILY OBTAINED FROM THE SPECIES DIOSCOREA ROTUNDATA, D. CAYENENSIS, D.
ALATA, D. ESCULENTA AND D. TRIFIDA, TO BE SUPPLIED FRESH TO THE CONSUMER.
YAMS INTENDED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING ARE EXCLUDED. THE SKIN COLOUR OF YAMS
RANGES FROM OFF-WHITE TO BROWN AND DARK BROWN. THE FLESH COLOUR OF YAMS CAN
BE OFF-WHITE, YELLOW, PINK OR PURPLE. SOME LARGE YAM TUBERS ARE ALSO KNOWN TO
VARY IN COLOUR BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE TAIL. |
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PROVISIONS
CONCERNING QUALITY |
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· MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS o
IN ALL CLASSES, SUBJECT
TO THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EACH CLASS AND THE TOLERANCES ALLOWED, THE YAMS
MUST BE: § WHOLE OR TRANSVERSELY CUT PIECES PROVIDED THAT THE
CUT SURFACE IS SUFFICIENTLY CURED; § SOUND; PRODUCE AFFECTED BY ROTTING OR
DETERIORATION SUCH AS TO MAKE IT UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION SHOULD BE EXCLUDED; § FIRM; § CLEAN, PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN
MATTER, EXCLUDING COCONUT FIBER, SAW DUST AND OTHER MATERIALS USED FOR
PROTECTIVE PACKAGING; § PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS1; § PRACTICALLY FREE FROM DAMAGES CAUSED BY PESTS; § FREE FROM ABNORMAL EXTERNAL MOISTURE, EXCLUDING
CONDENSATION FOLLOWING REMOVAL FROM COLD STORAGE; § FREE FROM ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE; § FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY LOW OR HIGH
TEMPERATURE; § PRACTICALLY FREE FROM SPROUTING; |
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THE DEVELOPMENT AND
CONDITION OF THE YAM MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM: § THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITION OF THE YAM MUST BE
SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM: § TO ARRIVE IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION AT THE PLACE
OF DESTINATION. |
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MINIMUM MATURITY
REQUIREMENTS THE YAMS MUST HAVE REACHED AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF DEVELOPMENT
AND/OR MATURITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIES, THE
TIME OF HARVESTING/PICKING, AND THE AREA IN WHICH THEY ARE GROWN. |
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CLASSIFICATION THE
YAMS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CLASSES DEFINED BELOW: |
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· “EXTRA” CLASS YAMS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE OF
SUPERIOR QUALITY AND WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VARIETY AND/OR
COMMERCIAL TYPE. THEY MUST BE FREE FROM 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. o
NON-TRANSVERSAL CUTS OR
SURFACES AND/OR SCARS, AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCEED 5% OF THE SURFACE OF THE
PRODUCT; o
VERY SLIGHT DEFECTS IN
SHAPE. |
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· CLASS I YAMS 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: o
NON-TRANSVERSAL CUTS OR
SURFACES AND/OR SCARS, AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCEED 10% OF THE SURFACE OF
THE PRODUCT; o
A SLIGHT DEFECT IN
SHAPE. |
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· LASS II THIS CLASS INCLUDES YAMS THAT DO NOT
QUALIFY FOR INCLUSION IN THE HIGHER CLASSES BUT SATISFY THE MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3.1 ABOVE. THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS MAY BE
ALLOWED PROVIDED THAT THE YAM RETAINS ITS ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS AS
REGARDS THE QUALITY, THE KEEPING QUALITY AND PRESENTATION IN THE PACKAGE: o
NON-TRANSVERSAL CUTS OR
SURFACES AND/OR SCARS, AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCEED 15% OF THE SURFACE OF
THE PRODUCT; o
DEFECTS IN SHAPE. |
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PROVISIONS
CONCERNING SIZING |
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YAM MAY BE SIZED BY
WEIGHT OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING TRADE PRACTICES. WHEN SIZED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING TRADE PRACTICES, THE PACKAGE MUST BE LABELLED WITH
THE SIZE AND METHOD USED. WHEN SIZED BY WEIGHT, SIZE IS BASED ON THE
INDIVIDUAL WEIGHT OF EACH TUBER OR A WEIGHT RANGE PER PACKAGE. THE FOLLOWING
TABLE IS A GUIDE AND MAY BE USED ON AN OPTIONAL BASIS: |
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SIZE CODE |
WEIGHT (RANGE IN KG) |
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A |
>6 |
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B |
>4-6 |
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C |
>2.5-4 |
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D |
>1.5-2.5 |
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E |
>1.0-1.5 |
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F |
>0.75-1 |
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G |
>0.5-0.75 |
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H |
>0.25-0.5 |
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I |
>0.1-0.25 |
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J |
0.05-0.1 |
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PROVISIONS
CONCERNING TOLERANCES |
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QUALITY TOLERANCES
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. PRODUCE THAT FAIL CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT, MAY BE ALLOWED TO BE
RE-SORTED AND BROUGHT INTO CONFORMITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT
PROVISIONS IN THE GUIDELINES FOR FOOD IMPORT CONTROL SYSTEMS (CXG 47-2003). |
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“EXTRA” CLASS FIVE
PER CENT, BY NUMBER OR WEIGHT, OF YAMS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
THIS CLASS BUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CLASS I. INCLUDED THEREIN, IS 1%
TOLERANCE FOR DECAY, SOFT ROT AND/OR INTERNAL BREAKDOWN. AND 1% OF DIRT AND
IMPURITIES. |
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CLASS I TEN PERCENT
BY NUMBER OR WEIGHT OF YAMS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CLASS,
BUT MEETING THOSE OF CLASS II. INCLUDED THEREIN, IS 2% TOLERANCE FOR DECAY,
SOFT ROT AND/OR INTERNAL BREAKDOWN. AND 1% OF DIRT AND IMPURITIES. |
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CLASS II TEN PER
CENT BY NUMBER OR WEIGHT, OF YAMS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
CLASS. INCLUDED THEREIN, IS 2% TOLERANCE FOR DECAY, SOFT ROT AND/OR INTERNAL
BREAKDOWN. AND 1% OF DIRT AND IMPURITIES. |
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SIZE TOLERANCES FOR
ALL CLASSES, IF SIZED, 10.0% BY NUMBER OR WEIGHT OF YAMS NOT SATISFYING THE
REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE SIZE INDICATED. |
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PROVISIONS
CONCERNING PRESENTATION |
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UNIFORMITY THE
CONTENTS OF EACH PACKAGE SHALL BE UNIFORM AND CONTAIN ONLY YAMS OF THE SAME
ORIGIN, VARIETY OR COMMERCIAL TYPE, QUALITY AND SIZE. HOWEVER, A MIXTURE OF
YAM OF DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT COLOURS MAY BE PACKED TOGETHER IN A PACKAGE,
PROVIDED THEY ARE UNIFORM IN QUALITY AND FOR EACH COLOUR CONCERNED IN ORIGIN.
THE VISIBLE PART OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE MUST BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
ENTIRE CONTENTS. |
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PACKAGING YAMS MUST
BE PACKED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROTECT THE PRODUCE. THE MATERIALS USED INSIDE
THE PACKAGE MUST BE OF FOOD-GRADE QUALITY, 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. YAMS SHALL BE PACKED IN EACH PACKAGE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF
PRACTICE FOR PACKAGING AND TRANSPORT OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (CXC
44-1995). |
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DESCRIPTION OF
CONTAINERS THE CONTAINERS SHALL MEET THE QUALITY, HYGIENE, VENTILATION AND
RESISTANCE CHARACTERISTICS NECESSARY TO ENSURE SUITABLE HANDLING, SHIPPING
AND PRESERVING OF THE YAMS. PACKAGES MUST BE FREE OF ANY FOREIGN MATTER AND
SMELL. |
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PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING OR LABELLING |
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CONSUMER PACKAGES
IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GENERAL STANDARD FOR THE LABELLING OF
PREPACKAGED FOODS (CXS 1-1985), THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC PROVISIONS APPLY: |
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NAME OF PRODUCE
EACH PACKAGE SHALL BE LABELLED AS TO THE NAME OF THE PRODUCE “YAM” AND MAY BE
LABELLED AS TO THE NAME OF THE VARIETY(IES), AND/OR COMMERCIAL TYPE. |
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ORIGIN OF PRODUCE
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN2 AND, OPTIONALLY, DISTRICT WHERE GROWN, OR NATIONAL,
REGIONAL OR LOCAL PLACE NAME. IN THE CASE OF A MIXTURE OF DISTINCTLY
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF YAMS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS, THE INDICATION OF THE
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN SHALL APPEAR NEXT TO THE NAME OF THE VARIETY |
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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. FOR YAMS TRANSPORTED IN BULK (DIRECT LOADING INTO A TRANSPORT
VEHICLE) THESE PARTICULARS MUST APPEAR ON A DOCUMENT ACCOMPANYING THE GOODS,
AND ATTACHED IN A VISIBLE POSITION INSIDE THE TRANSPORT VEHICLE UNLESS THE
DOCUMENT IS REPLACED BY AN ELECTRONIC SOLUTION. IN THAT CASE THE
IDENTIFICATION MUST BE MACHINE READABLE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE. |
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IDENTIFICATION NAME
AND ADDRESS OF EXPORTER, PACKER AND / OR DISPATCHER. IDENTIFICATION CODE
(OPTIONAL)3. |
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NAME OF PRODUCE
NAME OF THE PRODUCE. NAME OF VARIETY AND/OR COMMERCIAL TYPE. |
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ORIGIN OF PRODUCE
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND, OPTIONALLY, DISTRICT WHERE GROWN, OR NATIONAL,
REGIONAL OR LOCAL PLACE NAME. IN THE CASE OF A MIXTURE OF DISTINCTLY
DIFFERENT VARIETIES OR SPECIES OF YAMS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS, THE INDICATION
OF EACH COUNTRY OF ORIGIN SHALL APPEAR NEXT TO THE NAME OF THE VARIETY OR
SPECIES CONCERNED. |
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· COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS o
CLASS; o
SIZE EXPRESSED AS § SIZE RANGE IN KG § SIZE CODE IN ACCORDANCE § IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD USED; o
COOKING TYPE (OPTIONAL) |
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CONTAMINANTS |
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THE PRODUCE COVERED
BY THIS STANDARD SHALL COMPLY WITH THE MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS FOR PESTICIDES
ESTABLISHED BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION. THE PRODUCE COVERED BY THIS
STANDARD SHALL COMPLY WITH THE MAXIMUM LEVELS OF THE GENERAL STANDARD FOR
CONTAMINANTS AND TOXINS IN FOOD AND FEED (CXS 193-1995). |
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HYGIENE |
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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 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
OF FOOD HYGIENE (CXC 1-1969), CODE OF HYGIENIC PRACTICE FOR FRESH FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES (CXC 53-2003), AND OTHER RELEVANT CODEX TEXTS SUCH AS CODES OF
HYGIENIC PRACTICE AND CODES OF PRACTICE. |
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THE PRODUCE SHOULD
COMPLY WITH ANY MICROBIOLOGICAL CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND APPLICATION OF
MICROBIOLOGICAL CRITERIA RELATED TO FOODS (CXG 21-1997). |
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