Grade designations | Grade requirements | Grade tolerances |
1 | 2 | 3 |
Extra class | Chillies must be of superior quality. They must be well developed and have all the characteristic and colouring typical of the variety. They must be free of defects. | 5 % by number or weight of chillies not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class I grade or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
Class I | Chilies must be of good quality. They must be characteristics of the variety /or commercial type. The following slight defects, however, may be allowed, provided they do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package; | 10 % by number or weight of chilies not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
| – slight defects in shape; |
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| – slight defects in colouring, including sunspots; – slight skin defects (i.e. scratches, scars, scrapes and blemishes) not exceeding 2 % of the total surface area.
The defects must not, in any case, affect the pericarp of the pods. |
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Class II | Chilies which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher grades, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified in minimum requirements. The following defects may be allowed, provided the chilies may retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package. | 10 % by number or weight of chilies not satisfying the requirements of the grade but meeting the minimum requirements. |
| – defects in shape; – defects in colouring, including sunspots; – skin defects (i.e. scratches, scars, scrapes, bruises and blemishes) not exceeding 5% of the total surface area. The defects must not, in any case, affect the pericarp of the pods. |
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- whole, with or without peduncle;
- fresh in appearance;
- clean sound, free from any visible foreign matter;
- free of pests affecting the general appearance of the produce;
- free of damage caused by pests;
- free of abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following removal from cold storage;
- free of any foreign smell /or taste;
- free of damage caused by low or high temperature;
- free of sunburns;
- free of damage caused by frost
SIZE TOLERANCES:
- For all classes, 10 % by number or weight of Chilies corresponding to the size immediately above /or below that indicated on the package.