MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

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

o   INTACT;

§  PEACHES AND NECTARINES MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY SPOILING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE. MECHANICAL DAMAGE, UNHEALED CRACKS AND INJURY OF THE STALK CAVITY ARE
NOT ALLOWED. MECHANICAL DAMAGE IS A COLLECTIVE TERM THAT INCLUDES INJURIES MADE BY HUMANS OR MACHINERY DURING MANIPULATION.

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

§  PEACHES AND NECTARINES MUST BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECTS THEIR APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR KEEPING QUALITY. IN PARTICULAR, PEACHES AND NECTARINES 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.

§  PEACHES AND NECTARINES SHOWING THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED:

§  ROTTING, EVEN IF THE SIGNS ARE VERY SLIGHT 

§  SPLIT STONE WITH MOULD IN A CLOSED FRUIT 

§  DAMAGES DUE TO LOW TEMPERATURE OR FROST. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO CHILLING TEMPERATURES (OVER 0 ºC AND BELOW 10 O) MAY CAUSE PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS NAMED CHILLING INJURY OR INTERNAL BREAKDOWN. VARIOUS SYMPTOMS CAN APPEAR, INCLUDING: PITTING; FLESH BROWNING; DRY, WOOLLY OR MEALY TEXTURE (FARINACEOUS FRUIT); REDDENING OR TRANSLUCENCY OF THE FLESH; DARK DISCOLOURATION OF THE STONE CAVITY. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOSS OF CHARACTERISTIC FLAVOUR OF THE FRUIT 

§  SERIOUS BRUISING 

§  DAMAGE DUE TO HAIL AFFECTING THE FLESH 

§  SERIOUS SUN SCORCH 

§  HEALED / DRY CRACK

§  GUMMOSIS 

o   CLEAN, PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER;

§  PEACHES AND NECTARINES MUST BE PRACTICALLY FREE OF SOIL, DUST, CHEMICAL RESIDUE OR OTHER FOREIGN MATTER. 

o   PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS;

§  THE PRESENCE OF PESTS CAN DETRACT FROM THE COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PEACHES AND NECTARINES. THEREFORE, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT WOULD BE THE ODD
INSECT, MITE OR OTHER PEST IN THE PACKAGE OR SAMPLE; ANY COLONIES WOULD LEAD TO THE REJECTION OF THE PRODUCE.

o   FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS AFFECTING THE FLESH;

§  PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE FLESH MAKES THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION.

o   FREE OF FRUIT SPLIT AT THE STALK CAVITY; 

o   FREE OF ABNORMAL EXTERNAL MOISTURE;

§  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   FREE OF ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE.

§  THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO PEACHES AND NECTARINES 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 PEACHES AND NECTARINES MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM:

·       TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING,

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

§  SHRIVELLED OR FARINACEOUS FRUIT ARE EXCLUDED. OVERRIPE FRUIT ARE TO BE EXCLUDED IF THEIR CONDITION MAKES THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION UPON ARRIVAL AT THEIR DESTINATION.