The regulations for mushrooms of the varieties (cultivars) of Agaricus bisporus L, are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) |
Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class cultivated mushrooms in subregulation 4 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 6; mushrooms shall ; |
| (c) |
be clean and free from foreign matter, |
| (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 from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the mushrooms detrimentally; |
| (n) |
be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
| (o) |
be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
| (p) |
be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
| (2) |
Mushrooms are divided into two groups: |
| (a) |
Uncut mushrooms, mushrooms which have the lower part of the stalk uncut; or |
| (b) |
Cut mushrooms, mushrooms which have the lower part of the stalk cut: Provided that the cut shall be clean and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. |
| (3) |
In both above-mentioned groups a distinction is made between: |
| (a) |
Closed mushrooms if the pileus is closed; or |
| (b) |
Open mushrooms if the pileus is open: Provided that the pileus retain its convexity. |
Classification
| (4) |
The amount of casing material (determined as a ration between the mass of the dried adhering casing material and that of the mushroom) may not exceed ; |
| (a) |
in the case of Class 1 ; |
| (i) |
uncut mushrooms not exceed 6%; or |
| (ii) |
cut mushrooms not exceed 2%; and |
| (b) |
in the case of Class 2 and Class 3; |
| (i) |
uncut mushrooms not exceed 8%; or |
| (ii) |
cut mushrooms not exceed 4% |
| (c) |
In the case of Lowest Class mushrooms - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
| (a) |
Mushrooms are packed and sorted according to the maximum diameter of the pileus and the length of the stalk. |
| (b) |
The minimum diameter of the pileus; |
| (i) |
in the case of closed mushrooms is 15 mm; and |
| (ii) |
in the case of open mushrooms is 20 mm. |
| (c) |
The size groups, diameter of the pileus and the maximum length of the stalk for cut mushrooms in the case of closed mushrooms are set out in the table below: |
|
Size group
|
Diameter for pileus
|
Maximum length of stalk for cut mushrooms
|
|
Small
|
15mm - 35mm
|
20mm
|
|
Medium
|
30mm - 55mm
|
25mm
|
|
Large
|
45mm and more
|
30mm
|
| (d) |
The size group, diameter of the pileus and the maximum length of the stalk for cut mushrooms in the case of open mushrooms are set out in the table below: |
|
Size group
|
Diameter for pileus
|
Maximum length of stalk for cut mushrooms
|
|
Small
|
20mm - 35mm
|
20mm
|
|
Medium
|
30mm - 65mm
|
25mm
|
|
Large
|
60mm and more
|
30mm
|
| (e) |
Uncut mushrooms of which the stalk is longer than the diameter of the pileus shall be classified as Class 2. |
| (f) |
Sizing is compulsory in the case of ; |
| (i) |
Class 1 cut mushrooms; |
| (ii) |
Class 1 uncut mushrooms presented in packages weighing 1 kg or less; and |
| (iii) |
Class 2 cut and uncut mushrooms presented in packages weighing 1 kg or less. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
| (a) |
Class 1 mushrooms may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating mushrooms ; |
| (i) |
at least comply with quality standards for Class 2; and |
| (ii) |
do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (b) |
Class 2 mushrooms may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 with |
| - |
15% by mass: Provided that the deviating mushrooms ; |
| - |
do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (c) |
Class 3 mushrooms may deviate from the quality standards for Class 3 with 25% by mass: Provided that the deviating cultivated mushrooms ; do not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - |
Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
| (7) |
Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 mushrooms may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements, set out in subregulation 5, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number. |
Marking requirements
| (8) |
Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part I, each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class mushrooms are packed shall be marked with the mass. |
Older Persons Act, 2006
