The regulations for pods of beans of the varieties (cultivars) grown from Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus L., are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) |
Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class green beans in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 4 green beans shall— |
| (a) |
be intact, except in the case of trimmed green beans: Provided that trimmed green beans must be clearly marked as "topped and tailed" or any other suitable expression indicating that the beans have been trimmed; |
| (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; |
| (h) |
be free from injuries; |
| (i) |
be free from bruises; |
| (j) |
be free from abnormal external moisture; |
| (k) |
be free from foreign odours; |
| (I) |
be free from cold damage; |
| (m) |
be free from sun-scorch; |
| (n) |
be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the green beans detrimentally; |
| (o) |
be free from hard endosperm; |
| (p) |
be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
| (q) |
be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; |
| (r) |
be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling; and |
| (s) |
have a peduncle of at least 5 mm except in the case of trimmed beans. |
Classifications
| (a) |
In the case of green beans classified as Class 1— |
| (i) |
the pods shall be closed, tender, young and turgescent; |
| (ii) |
the green beans shall be stringless, except in the case of green beans destined for slicing; |
| (iii) |
the seeds shall, if present, be small and soft; and |
| (iv) |
the pods shall be free from rust spots. |
| (b) |
In the case of green beans classified as Class 2 and Class 3 ; |
| (i) |
the pods shall be closed, reasonably tender, young and fairly turgescent; |
| (ii) |
the green beans shall be stringless, except in the case of green beans intended for slicing; |
| (iii) |
the seeds, if present, may not be too large and must be reasonably soft; and |
| (iv) |
the pods may have slight rust spots except in the case of needle beans. |
| (c) |
In the case of Lowest Class green beans - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
(3)
| (a) |
The size is determined by the maximum width of the pod measured at right angles to the seam. |
| (b) |
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 needle beans are divided into the following groups according to diameter: |
| (i) |
6 mm and smaller - very fine beans; |
| (ii) |
9 mm and smaller -fine beans; and |
| (iii) |
12mm and more -medium beans. |
| (c) |
Sizing is not compulsory for green beans other than needle beans. |
| (d) |
In the case of Lowest Class green beans - unspecified. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
(4)
| (a) |
Class 1 green beans may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass and with an additional 15% beans with stalks and a small part of the neck missing: Provided that the deviating green beans ; |
| (i) |
at least comply with the quality standards for Class 2; and |
| (ii) |
do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
beans with strings in the case of stringless varieties: 5%; |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (b) |
Class 2 and Class 3 green beans may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 with 15% and 25% respectively by mass and with an additional 30% beans with stalks and a small part of the neck missing: Provided that the deviating green beansdo not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
decay: 4% and 6% respectively; |
| - |
injuries: 8% and 10% respectively; |
| - |
beans with strings in the case of stringless varieties: 5%; |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit 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
| (5) |
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 green beans may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements set out in subregulation 3, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by diameter. |
Marking requirements
| (6) |
Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part 1 each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class green beans are packed shall be marked with ; |
| (a) |
the applicable size ; |
| (i) |
in the case of needle beans, indicated by the words "very fine", "fine" and "medium"; |
| (ii) |
in the case of other beans (if sized), indicated by the minimum and maximum width of the pods; |
| (b) |
Class 2 and Class 3 green beans may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 with 15% and 25% respectively by mass and with an additional 30% beans with stalks and a small part of the neck missing: Provided that the deviating green beansdo not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
decay: 4% and 6% respectively; |
| - |
injuries: 8% and 10% respectively; |
| - |
beans with strings in the case of stringless varieties: 5%; |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit 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. |
Statistics Act, 1999
