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

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

o   TABLE GRAPES MUST BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECTS THEIR APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR MARKET VALUE. IN PARTICULAR, THIS EXCLUDES TABLE GRAPES AFFECTED BY ROTTING, EVEN IF THE SIGNS ARE VERY SLIGHT BUT LIABLE TO MAKE THE TABLE GRAPES UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION UPON ARRIVAL AT THEIR DESTINATION.

o   TABLE GRAPES SHOWING THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED:

§  SHRIVELLED BERRIES AND WILTED RACHIS (STALK) AND PEDICELS (CAP STEMS)

§  DAMAGED OR BURNED BERRIES DUE TO CHEMICAL TREATMENT

§  SPLIT BERRIES

§  DETERIORATION OR ALTERATION OF THE SKIN OR PULP CAUSED BY FUNGAL DISEASES:

Ø BLACK ROT (GUIGNARDIA BIDWELLII)

Ø POWDERY MILDEW (UNCINULA NECATOR)

Ø ANTHRACNOSE (ELSINOE AMPELINA)

Ø GREY MOULD (BOTRYTIS CINEREA)

·       CLEAN AND PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER.

o   TABLE GRAPES MUST BE PRACTICALLY FREE OF VISIBLE SOIL, DUST, CHEMICAL RESIDUE OR OTHER FOREIGN MATTER. HOWEVER, AS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CLEAN THE BERRIES OF TABLE GRAPES BEFORE EATING, CHEMICAL RESIDUE, SOIL, DUST, SOOTY MOULD OR POLLUTION BY MEALY BUG SECRETION IS NOT ALLOWED.

·       PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS.

o   TABLE GRAPES MUST BE FREE OF INSECTS OR OTHER PESTS. THE PRESENCE OF PESTS CAN DETRACT FROM THE COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE TABLE GRAPES.

·       PRACTICALLY FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS.

o   PEST DAMAGE CAN DETRACT FROM THE GENERAL APPEARANCE AND AFFECT THE KEEPING QUALITY AND EDIBILITY OF THE TABLE GRAPES.

·       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 TABLE GRAPES STORED OR TRANSPORTED UNDER POOR CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE CONSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN THEIR ABSORBING SMELLS AND/OR TASTES, IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER PRODUCT WHICH GIVE OFF VOLATILE ODOURS.

·       IN ADDITION, BERRIES MUST BE:

o   INTACT.

§  BERRIES MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY SPOILING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE.

o   WELL FORMED.

o   NORMALLY DEVELOPED.

§  DRIED (BLACK OR BROWN BERRIES) AND SHOT BERRIES (UNDERDEVELOPED BERRIES) ARE NOT ALLOWED.

·       PIGMENTATION DUE TO SUN IS NOT A DEFECT.

o   BERRIES OF WHITE VARIETIES EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT TURN YELLOW AND MAY SHOW PIGMENTATION ON THE SKIN ONLY.

o   SPOTS OF SUN SCORCH THAT DETERIORATE THE SKIN AND MAY AFFECT THE FLESH ARE NOT ALLOWED.

·       BUNCHES MUST HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY PICKED.

o   HARVESTING OPERATIONS NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FRAGILITY OF THE FRUIT AND THE FACT THAT THE SLIGHTEST DAMAGE MAY LEAD TO DETERIORATION. IT IS VITAL TO AVOID APPLYING ANY PRESSURE. DURING THE HARVEST THE SKIN OF THE GRAPES SHOULD, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, BE DRY. BUNCHES SHOULD BE HANDLED AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE BLOOM INTACT. THESE PRECAUTIONS RELATE TO PICKING AS WELL AS TO ALL OTHER STAGES WHEN HANDLING THE PRODUCE.

·       THE BUNCHES MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED AND DISPLAY SATISFACTORY RIPENESS.

o   WITH RESPECT TO A SUFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT ARE THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS EXCLUDED:

§  “THIN” (STRAGGLY) BUNCHES, I.E. WITH BERRIES TOO FAR APART ON THE STALK OR WITH TOO
FEW BERRIES.

§  “UNEVENLY DEVELOPED” BUNCHES, I.E. WITH «SHOT» BERRIES RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT POLLINATION. THE “SHOT” BERRIES ARE USUALLY SEEDLESS IN THOSE VARIETIES THAT NORMALLY DEVELOP SEEDS. THEY MAY BE ENTIRELY GREEN AND HARD OR MATURE AND COLOUR UNIFORMLY WITH THE NORMAL BERRIES.

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

o   TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORT AND HANDLING, 

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