The regulation for cucumbers of the varieties (cultivars) of Cucumis sativus L., are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) |
Subject to the regulation for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class cucumbers in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 5, cucumbers shall ; |
| (c) |
be clean and free from foreign matter, including soil; |
| (d) |
be free from Arthropoda infestation; |
| (e) |
be free from insect damage or damage caused by other organisms; |
| (f) |
be free from blemishes; |
| (g) |
be free from injuries; |
| (h) |
be free from bruises; |
| (i) |
be free from abnormal external moisture; |
| (j) |
be free from foreign odours; |
| (k) |
be free from cold damage; |
| (I) |
be free from sun-scorch; |
| (m) |
be free of bitter taste; |
| (n) |
be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the cucumbers detrimentally; |
| (o) |
be fresh and firm and show no sign of withering; |
| (p) |
be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
| (q) |
be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
Classification
| (a) |
Class 1 cucumber shall be ; |
| (i) |
well developed: Provided that the seed must be soft; |
| (ii) |
well shaped and practically straight with the maximum height of the arc not more than 10 mm per 100 mm of the length of the cucumber; and |
| (iii) |
free of defects, including malformations and particularly those caused by seed formation. |
| (b) |
Class 2 cucumbers shall be ; |
| (i) |
reasonably developed: Provided that the seed must be soft; |
| (ii) |
virtually straight with the maximum height of the arc not more than 10 mm per 100 mm of the length of the cucumber; and |
| (iii) |
free of deformation caused by seed formation. |
| (i) |
shall be reasonably straight with the maximum height of the arc not more than 20 mm per 100 mm of the length of the cucumber; and |
| (ii) |
may have slight discolouration limited to one-third of the surface area of the cucumber. |
| (d) |
In the case of Lowest Class - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
| (a) |
The minimum mass for Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 cucumbers ; |
| (i) |
grown under protection is 250 g; or |
| (ii) |
grown in the open is 180 g. |
| (b) |
the minimum length for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 cucumbers grown under protection is ; |
| (i) |
250 mm in the case of cucumbers with a mass of between 250 g and 500 g; and |
| (ii) |
300 mm in the case of cucumbers with a mass of 500 g and more; |
| (c) |
The maximum difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 cucumber in the same packing shall not exceed ; |
| (i) |
100 g if the lightest cucumber weigh between 180 g and 400 g; and |
| (ii) |
150 g if the lightest cucumber weigh more than 400 g. |
| (d) |
In the case of Lowest Class cucumber - unspecified. |
| (4) |
The maximum length for miniature cucumbers is 60 mm. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
| (a) |
Class 1 cucumbers may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating cucumbers ; |
| (i) |
at least comply with the quality standards for Class 2; and |
| (ii) |
do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Degree as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (b) |
Class 2 and Class 3 cucumbers may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 and Class 3 with 15% and 25% respectively by mass: Provided that the deviating cucumbers ; do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
decay: 4% and 6% respectively; |
| - |
injuries: 8% and 10% respectively; |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Degree as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (c) |
In the case of Lowest Class - decay shall not exceed 20% by mass or number. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
| (6) |
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 cucumbers may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements, set out in subregulation 4, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number: Provided that the deviating cucumbers do not deviate by more than 10% from the specified size and weight limits. |
Marking requirements
| (7) |
Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part I each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class cucumbers are packed shall be marked with ; |
| (a) |
the expression "grown under protection", where applicable; |
| (b) |
the expression "mini cucumbers" or "baby cucumber" or other appropriate term for miniature produce, where appropriate: Provided that where several types of miniature produce are mixed in the same packages, all products shall be mentioned; and |
| (c) |
the minimum and maximum mass. |
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