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Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)

Regulations

Regulations relating to the Grading, Packing and Marking of Fresh Vegetables intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa

Part II : Specific Regulations for Fresh Vegetables

7. Butternuts

 

The regulations for butternuts of varieties (cultivars) of Cucurbita maxima L, are as follows:

 

Quality standards

 

(1) Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 butternuts in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 4, butternuts shall ;
(a) be intact:
(b) be free from decay;
(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 cracks;
(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 frost damage;
(m) be free from sun scorch;
(n) be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the butternut detrimentally;
(o) be fresh and firm;
(p) be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of cultivar; and
(q) be developed and of such conditions as to enable them to withstand transport and handling.

 

Classification

 

(2)
(a) Class 1 butternuts shall be free from defects.
(b) Class 2 and Class 3 butternuts may show the following slight defects: Provided that the fruit is not affected:
(i) colouring;
(ii) skin;
(iii) shape and development.
(c) In the case of Lowest Class butternuts - unspecified.

 

Packing and sorting requirements

 

(3)
(a) The minimum mass for Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 butternuts is 450g.
(b) The maximum difference in mass between the lightest and heaviest butternuts in the same packing shall ;
(i) in the case of Class 1 not exceed 180g
(ii) in the case of Class 2 not exceed 260; and
(iii) in the case of Class 3 not exceed 340g.
(c) The fruit must be free from mechanical damage - only 3% bruising allowed per punnet.
(d) The baby or miniature butternuts shall have maximum length of 100 mm and minimum length of 70mm.

 

Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards

 

(4)
(a) Class 1 butternuts may deviate from quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by number: Provided that the deviating butternuts:
(i) at least comply with the quality standards for Class 2;
(ii) do not have any defects rendering them unfit for human consumption; and
(iii) do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 2%
- injuries: 6%
- Arthropoda infestation: Degree as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1
(b) Butternuts classified as Class 2 and Class 3 may deviate from the minimum standards with 15% and 25% respectively by number: Provided that the deviating butternuts do not exceed the following individual limits:
- decay: 4% and 6% respectively;
- injuries: 8% and 10% respectively;and
- 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

 

(5) Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 butternuts may deviate from packing and sorting requirements set out in subregulations 3 and 4 with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number.