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

o   INTACT; THE PRODUCT-SPECIFIC PRESENTATION WITHOUT TIP AND/OR LATERAL ROOTS IS NOT REGARDED AS A DEFECT PROVIDED THE CUT IS CLEAN; IN ANY CASE FRACTURED ROOTS ARE EXCLUDED;

o   ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY AFFECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE.

o   ROOTS OF THE HAMBURG PARSLEY AND PARSNIP MAY BE PRESENTED WITHOUT TIPS PROVIDED THE TYPICAL APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCE IS NOT AFFECTED.

o   HORSE RADISH MAY BE PRESENTED TOPED AND TAILED AND WITH LATERAL ROOTS CUT OFF, PROVIDED THE TYPICAL APPEARANCE OF THE PRODUCE IS NOT AFFECTED.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  INTACT

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

o   THE ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES MUST BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION, WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECTS THEIR APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR KEEPING QUALITY. IN PARTICULAR, PRODUCTS 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   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  ROTTING, DETERIORATION

·       CLEAN; THIS MEANS

o   PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER, IN CASE OF WASHED ROOTS

o   PRACTICALLY FREE OF SERIOUS DIRT AND IMPURITIES, IN CASE OF UNWASHED ROOTS

o   THE PRESENCE OF THE VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER CAN DETRACT FROM THE COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES.

o   THEREFORE IN CASE OF THE WASHED PRODUCT, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT FOR “PRACTICALLY FREE” WOULD BE – IN ALL CLASSES – TRACES OF FOREIGN MATTER. EXCESSIVE DUST, SOILING OR VISIBLE CHEMICAL RESIDUES WOULD LEAD TO THE REJECTION OF THE PRODUCE.

o   IN CASE OF UNWASHED PRODUCT, THE ROOTS AND TUBERCLES MUST BE FREE OF SERIOUS PRESENCE OF ADHERENT SOIL AND / OR IMPURITIES LIKE ROTTEN LEAVES.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  FOREIGN MATTER, DIRT, IMPURITIES

·       PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS;

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

·       PRACTICALLY FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS;

o   PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE FLESH MAKES THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION. THEREFORE, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT FOR “PRACTICALLY FREE” WOULD BE – IN ALL CLASSES – TRACES OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  PESTS AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS

·       FRESH IN APPEARANCE AND FIRM;

o   AT PACKING AND DISPATCH, ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES SHOULD NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF SHRIVELLING, WILTING, DRYING OR AGEING. ONLY ON MARKETING STAGES FOLLOWING DISPATCH, THE PRODUCTS MAY SHOW A SLIGHT LACK OF FRESHNESS.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  FRESH IN APPEARANCE AND FIRM

·       FREE OF DISCOLORATION OF THE FLESH SUCH AS GREY OR BLACK STREAKS;

·       NOT FORKED;

·       ROOTS MUST BE SINGLE ROOTS, I.E. WITH ONE TIP ONLY.

·       FREE OF SECONDARY ROOT GROWTH;

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  FORKED, SECONDARY ROOT GROWTH

·       NOT HOLLOW;

·       NOT WOODY, FIBROUS OR SPONGY;

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  WOODY, FIBROUS, SPONGY, HOLLOW

·       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.

o   IN ORDER THAT THE ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES REMAIN IN GOOD CONDITION DURING TRANSPORT AND HANDLING THE WASHED PRODUCTS MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DRIED BEFORE PACKAGING.

·       FREE OF ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE.

o   THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES 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.

·       IN CASE OF PRODUCE PRESENTED WITH LEAVES, THE LEAVES MUST BE SOUND, FRESH AND CLEAN.

·       LEAVES MUST NOT BE AFFECTED BY SLIGHT SIGNS OF MOULD, ROTTING OR OTHER DISEASES.

·       IN CASE OF PRODUCE PRESENTED WITHOUT LEAVES, THE LEAVES MUST BE NEATLY CUT AT THE TOP OF THE ROOT.

o   NAME OF ILLUSTRATION

§  LEAVES

·       THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITION OF THE ROOT AND TUBERCLE VEGETABLES MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM:

o   TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING;

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