·       IN ALL CLASSES, SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EACH CLASS AND THE TOLERANCES ALLOWED, THE MELONS MUST BE:

·       INTACT4;

o   MELONS MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY AFFECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE, SUCH AS CUTS OR PUNCTURES OR OTHER SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED DURING HARVESTING OR POST-HARVEST HANDLING.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

o   INTACT

·       SOUND; PRODUCE AFFECTED BY ROTTING OR DETERIORATION SUCH AS TO MAKE IT UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION IS EXCLUDED;

o   MELONS MUST BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECT THEIR APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR KEEPING QUALITY. IN PARTICULAR, MELONS AFFECTED BY ROTTING, EVEN IF THE SIGNS ARE VERY SLIGHT BUT LIABLE TO MAKE THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION UPON ARRIVAL AT THEIR DESTINATION, ARE TO BE EXCLUDED.

o   MELONS SHOWING THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED:

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  MILDEW AND MOULD

§  BACTERIAL DISEASE

§  PHYSIOLOGICAL DEFECT

§  PHYSIOLOGICAL DEFECT AFFECTING THE SKIN

·       CLEAN, PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER;

o   MELONS MUST BE PRACTICALLY FREE OF VISIBLE SOIL, DUST, CHEMICAL RESIDUE OR OTHER FOREIGN MATTER.

o   THE PRESENCE OF VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER CAN DETRACT FROM COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF MELONS. THEREFORE, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT FOR “PRACTICALLY FREE” WOULD BE – IN ALL CLASSES – VERY SLIGHT TRACES OF DUST. ANY TRACES OF DUST, SOILING OR VISIBLE CHEMICAL RESIDUES WOULD LEAD TO THE REJECTION OF THE PRODUCE.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MATTERS

·       FRESH IN APPEARANCE;

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  LACK OF FRESHNESS

·       PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS;

o   THE PRESENCE OF PESTS CAN DETRACT FROM THE COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE MELONS. THEREFORE, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT FOR “PRACTICALLY FREE” WOULD BE- IN ALL CLASSES – OCCASIONAL INSECT, MITE OR OTHER PEST IN THE PACKAGE OR SAMPLE; ANY COLONIES WOULD LEAD TO THE REJECTION OF THE PRODUCE.

·       FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS AFFECTING THE FLESH;

o   PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE FLESH MAKES THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION. ANY PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE SKIN ONLY IS EVALUATED WITHIN THE LIMITS ALLOWED FOR SKIN DAMAGE IN THE RESPECTIVE CLASSES.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  PEST DAMAGE

·       FREE OF ABNORMAL EXTERNAL MOISTURE;

o   THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE, FOR EXAMPLE, FREE WATER LYING INSIDE THE PACKAGE BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE CONDENSATION ON PRODUCE FOLLOWING RELEASE FROM COOL STORAGE OR REFRIGERATED VEHICLE.

·       FREE OF ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE;

o   THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO MELONS STORED OR TRANSPORTED UNDER POOR CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE CONSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN THEIR ABSORBING ABNORMAL SMELLS AND/OR TASTES, IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER PRODUCT WHICH GIVE OFF VOLATILE ODOURS.

·       THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITION OF THE MELONS MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM:

o   TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING;

o   TO ARRIVE IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION AT THE PLACE OF DESTINATION.