FINAL DRAFT  
 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT       
 
No. R.  
 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990  
(ACT No. 119 OF 1990)  
 
REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE QUALITY, GRADING, PACKING AND MARKING OF  
TOMATOES INTENDED FOR SALE IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA  
 
The Minister of Agriculture , Land Reform and Rural Development  has, under section 15 of the Agricultural 
Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990) – 
 
(a) made the regulations in the Schedule;  
 
(b) determined that the said regulations shall come into operation on date of publication; and  
 
(c) read together with section 3(2) of the said Act, repealed the regulations published by Proclamation 
Nos. R. 1977 of 7  September 1984, R. 2854 of 29 December 1989, Government Notices Nos. R.  1978 of 
7 September 1984, R. 602 of 30 March 1984 , R. 1072 of 1st August 2003 and R. 750 of 03 October 2014        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________  
MRS AT DIDIZA, MP  
MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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SCHEDULE  
 
Definitions  
 
1. In these regulations any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall 
have that meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates, – 
 
abrasion marks”  means an indentation on the surface of the tomato that does not penetrate the skin and 
is caused by friction or scraping of the fruit during handling or transport;  
 
"Arthropoda " means any stage in the life of an invertebrate member of the Animal Kingdom that is 
bilaterally symmetrical with a segmented body, with jointed limbs that are paired and a chitinous external 
skeleton;  
 
"bacterial speck " means  small dark brown to black lesions on the surface of the tomato caused by bacterial 
pathogens;  
 
"blemishes " means any mark or skin defects on the surfac e of the tomato which adversely affects the 
appearance thereof;  
 
“blotchy ripening” means the partial ripening of the tomato fruit , with green to yellow areas of varying 
extent ;  
 
"blossom -end rot " means a dark brown or black patch which develops a  sunken or leathery on the blossom  
 end of the tomato fruit;  
 
"bruises" means any pressure which shows an indentation or results in discoloration directly under the  
skin, adversely affect the quality of the tomatoes and is visually noticeable ; 
 
"carrier container " means a container in which more than one consumer package of to matoes is  
           packed;  
 
"cat faces " means a condition involving malformation and scarring of tomato, particularly at the blossom   
           end; 
 
"chemical residues " means residues of agricultural remedies which in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm  Feeds, 
Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947), are permissible for the 
treatment of pests and diseases and which do not exceed the prescribed maximum residue limit;  
 
"chilling injury/pitting " means a physiological disorder caused by exposure to low, non -freezing 
temperature for a prolonged period of time. The fruit is affected with a dull pink/trans lucent colour with 
shriveling or sunken indentations on shoulders ; 
 
"class " means a class referred to in regulation 4(2);  
 
"classified tomatoes " means tomatoes which have been classified according to the classes specified in 
these regulations and of which the container is marked with a class designation or other designation 
indicating that the tomato is of a particular class or possesses particular quality properties;  
 
"consignment " means -- 
 
(a) a quantity of tomatoes of the same class belonging to the same owner which is delivered at any 
one time under cover of the same consignment note, delivery note or receipt note, or is delivered by the 
same vehicle, or  
 
(b) if such quantity is subdivided into different classes, size groups, cultivars, trademark or, types of 
packaging, each quantity of each of the different classes, size groups, cultivars, trademarks o r, types of 
packaging;  
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 "container " means the immediate container in which tomatoes are packed directly, the outer container in 
which prepacked units are packed and bulk containers excluding prepacked units and shipping containers 
in which pallet loads are  shipped;  
 
"colour defects " means tomatoes which show striped, blotchy or other colour patterns that are not 
characteristic of normal colouring/ripening;  
 
"cracks " means the splitting of the epidermis around the calyx or stem scar; there are two types of  
           tomato cracks:  
● Concentric cracking is the splitting of tomato skin in a circular pattern;  
 
● Radial cracking is the splitting of the tomato skin from the s tem scar towards the blossom end.  
 
"decay " means a state of decomposition, fungal development, or internal insect infestation or excrement 
or insect damage with signs of tissue collapse which partly or completely affect the quality of the tomato 
detrimenta lly, is visually noticeable;  
 
"diameter " means the greatest transverse measurement of a tomato, measured at right angles to a line 
running from the stem -end to the apex of the tomato;  
 
"firm" means a stage of development at which the flesh of the tomato is hard enough to withstand normal 
commercial handling;  
 
“Food Business Operator ” (FBO) means the person or persons responsible for ensuring that the 
prescribed requirements of these regulat ions are met within the food business as well as the person with 
overall authority on site or in the specific establishment;  
 
"foreign matter " means any material or substance that is visually noticeable, which  does not naturally form 
part of the tomatoes ; 
 
"green shoulder or green back " means  is a physiological disorder of tomatoes that is characterized by 
discoloured regions under the skin that show through and reduce the quality of the fruit; 
 
"injury " means any wound which exposes the flesh of the tomat o, excluding a wound  which has healed 
completely or has calloused;  
 
"insect puncture marks or damage " means any damage caused by insects on the surface of the tomato 
with no signs of tissue collapsing for example not limited to sting and bite marks;  
 
"inspector " means the Executive Officer or an inspector under his control or an Assignee or a qualified 
employee of an Assignee;  
 
"malformed " means that the shape of a tomato is not typical of the cultivar concerned;  
 
“Mosaic ” means abnormal yellow colour pattern on the surface of the fruit caused by Tomato Mosaic  Virus;  
 
"size group " means a size group referred to in Table 2 of the Annexures;  
 
"speciality tomatoes " mean the smaller snacking and heirloom -type varieties of various  sizes,  shapes 
and colours;   
 
"the Act " means the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990);  
 
"tomato " means the unprocessed fruit of the plant Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex. Farwell  
intended for human consumption and includes all cultivars, varieties and commercial types;  
 
"Tuta absoluta damage " means the progressive insect damage with sign of tissue collapsing that will affect 
the quality of the tomato;  
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 "unclassified tomatoes " means tomatoes which have not been classified according to the classes 
specified in these regulations and the quality sp ecifications in Table 1, and of which the container is marked 
with a designation to indicate that no definite class or grade has been applied to the container;  
 
"unprocessed " means that the tomatoes have not been cooked, peeled, dried,  or processed in any  other 
way, excluding normal sorting, grading, packing or cleaning practices;  
 
"unspecified defects"  means any defects caused by physiological or non -physiological factors affecting 
the quality of the tomato detrimentally ; and . 
 
"Yellow shoulder or yellowb ack" means  is a physiological disorder of tomatoes that is characterized by 
discoloured regions under the skin that show through and reduce the quality of the fruit.  
 
Restrictions on the sale of tomatoes  
 
2. (1) No person shall sell in the Republic of South Africa tomatoes, other than imported tomatoes 
referred to in subregulation (2), -- 
 
(i) unless the tomatoes are unclassified or sold according to the classes in regulation 4;  
 
(ii) unless the tomatoes comply with the different standards for classified or unclassified 
tomatoes in regulation 5;  
 
(iii) unless the tomatoes are packed in a conta iner and in the manner prescribed in   regulations 
7,8 and 9;  
 
(iv) unless the tomatoes are marked with the particulars and in the manner prescribed in 
regulation 10;  
 
(v) if the tomatoes contain a substance prescribed as a substance which it may not conta in; 
 
(vi) if the tomatoes are packed in a container or in a manner so prescribed as a container in 
which or a manner in which it may not be packed;  
 
(vii) if the tomatoes are marked with particulars or in a manner prescribed as particulars with 
which or a manner in which it may not be marked.  
 
  (2) Imported tomatoes shall be exempted from the provisions of subregulation (1), provided 
that the tomatoes - 
 
(a) comply with either the Codex Almentarius, UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission 
for Europe) or OECD (Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development) 
standards; and  
 
(b) are according to bilateral agreement accompanied by certificate issued by a relevant 
government authority responsible for  quality control of fresh fruit and vegetables and in 
which it is certified that the quality of the tomatoes as verified through inspection conforms 
to the relevant standard.  
 
  (3) In applying Section 3(1) (c) of the Act, the Minister authorises the Execu tive Officer to 
prohibit the sale of tomatoes  if the compliance with the regulations is not met.  
 
(4) The Executive Officer may grant written exemption, entirely or partially, to any person on 
such conditions as he or she deems necessary, from the provisions of subregulation (1):  Provided that 
such exemption is done in terms of section 3 (1) (c) of the Ac t. 
 
(5) The Executive Officer may grant written permission to a quantity of imported consignment from 
complying with the provisions of Section 4A (1) of the Act if such quantity of tomato is imported for purposes 
other than for the purpose of sale in the Republic of South Africa  
 
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QUALITY STANDARDS  
 
 
Types of tomatoes  
 
3 (1) Round tomatoes  
 
   (2)  Elongated tomatoes  
 
  (3) Speciality types of tomatoes  
 
Classes for tomatoes  
 
4. (1) Tomatoes shall be sold as either classified tomatoes or unclassified tomatoes.  
 
(2) There are four classes of classified tomatoes namely Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest 
Class.  
 
Standards for classes  
 
5. (1) Classified and unclassified tomatoes shall, contain no chemical residues that exceed the 
prescribed maximum residue limit  permissible in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 
1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972,  
 
(2) Tomatoes which are classified as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class shall comply 
with the specifications set out in Table  1 of the Annexure.  
 
(3) The extent to which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class tomatoes may deviate 
from the specifications prescribed in  subregulation  (2), is determined in accordance with regulations 13, 14, 
15 and 16 and as set out in Table 3 o f the Annexure.  
 
(4) No consignment of tomato classified as "Class 1", "Class 2", "Class 3" and "Lowest Class” 
shall contain;  
 
(a) plant injurious organisms of phytosanitary importance as specified by the Department of 
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development,  excluding Tuta Absoluta . 
 
(b) Arthropoda infestation including the organisms which according to paragraph (a) do not 
form part of plant injurious organisms, excluding organisms which may be a source of 
danger to the human being, on more than 3% of the tomatoes or three free running 
Arthropoda per pallet load or part thereof in the consignment:  Provided that it does not 
exceed a maximum of one Arthropoda per container.  
 
 
 Sizing  
 
6. Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section, by weight. The  following 
provision shall not apply to the Speciality types of tomatoes. Tomatoes which are classified as C lass 1, 
Class 2, Class 3, and Lowest Class shall comply with the size groupings set out in Table 2  and 3  of the 
Annexure.  Sizing does not apply to trusses of tomatoes . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 CONTAINERS, PACKING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS  
 
Requirements for containers  
 
7. (1) Containers in which tomatoes are packed shall -- 
 
(a) be intact, clean, suitable,  and strong enough for the packing and normal handling of 
tomatoes;  
 
(b) not impart a taste or odour to the tomatoes;  
 
(c) be free from any foreign matter other than the tomatoes packed therein and the packing 
material in which tomatoes are customarily packed;  
 
 
(d) in the case of containers that are re -used, the container should -- 
 
(i) be of such material that the container can be cleaned and disinfected prior to re -
use; 
 
(ii) be thoroughly clean before tomatoes are packed therein; and  
 
(iii) be free from all marks and labels removed or be covered by new labels.  
 
  (2) A carrier container shall be strong enough not to bulge out or dent in during normal handling 
and transporting practices.  
 
 
Packing requirements  
 
8. Each container of tomatoes shall – 
 
(a) be packed with tomatoes to the full capacity thereof; and   
 
(b) in the case of classified tomatoes, contain tomatoes of the same class and size group and 
as far as practical , possible of the same colour , with the exclusion of speciality  and trusses  
tomatoes . 
 
Stacking of containers on pallets  
 
9. If containers containing tomatoes are palletised  -- 
 
(a)     the pallet shall be clean, undamaged and suitable and not transmit to tomatoes any harmful  
    substance or any substance that may be injurious to human health;  
 
(b)       the pallet for imported consignments of tomatoes shall comply with the requirements of   the  
           International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15 ). 
 
(c)       the pallet shall be free from  Arthropoda infestation other  than acceptable levels of Tuta 
absoluta  (L) and any visible signs of fungal  growth;  
 
(d) the containers shall be stacked firmly and square with each other on the  pallet;  
 
(e) only containers of the same dimensions shall be stacked in the same layer on the pallet; 
and 
(f) the containers shall not be stacked upside -down on the pallet.  
 
 
 
 
 FINAL DRAFT  
 
  
Marking requirements  
 
10. (1) Containers containing tomatoes destined for sale shall be marked in clear and legible block 
letters and numerals in a manner described in subregulation (5) with the following particulars:  
 
(a) The name of the FBO or trademark  and physical or postal address of either the producer 
or owner or importer or packer of the tomatoes packed in that container.  
 
(b) The expression "Product of" followed by the name of the country of origin of the tomatoes.  
 
(c) The class, in the case of Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class:   Provided that 
additional to the class names the following names may be used:  
   Class 1 - First,  
Class 2 - Select,  
Class 3 - Standard,  
Lowest Class - Budget.  
 
(d) The size group of the tomatoes in the container, indicated as either minimum diameter and 
maximum diameter or as -- 
"Extra Large" or "XL",  
"Large"  or "L",  
"Medium Plus " or "M+",   
"Medium " or "M",  
"Medium small " or MS  
"Small " or " S" and  
“Extra  Small” or “ XS” tomatoes : Provided that the size group indication may be omitted 
in the case of speciality types of tomatoes and tomatoes packed in heightened transparent 
plastic bags and containers  for retail sale . 
 
(e) The net mass of the contents as prescribed by the Legal  Metrology Act, 2014  (Act No. 9 of  
2014 ) 
 
(f) The word "tomatoes", in the case of containers the contents of which are not visible from 
outside.  
 
  (2) If containers containing tomatoes are packed in a carrier container, each carrier container 
shall be marked with the particulars in subregulation (1), as well as with the number of containers it contains, 
on at least one end of every carrier container by means of stamping or stenciling or by p asting a printed 
label thereon.  
 
  (3) The particulars prescribed in subregulation (1) shall be indicated on the container by 
stamping, printing or by affixing a label thereon.  
  
(4) Particulars shall be printed in English or both in English and any other official language: 
Provided that internationally acknowledged symbols may be used.  
 
  (5) If at any stage the class or size designation should change the labels shall be replaced 
unless the new class or size designation is stamped across the old clas s or size designation, in clear legible 
block letters of at least 2 mm larger than the previous marks, with a suitable stamp.  
 
  (6) Each container containing tomatoes shall be provided with only one or more labels that 
shall be – 
 
(a) intact, clean and ne at; 
 
(b) manufactured from paper or other suitable material;  and  
 FINAL DRAFT  
 
 (c) affixed firmly to the container and in such a manner that re -stamping is possible without 
opening or damaging the container.  
 
 
  (7) If classified tomatoes are displayed for sale in loose quantities – 
 
(a) any quantity of a particular class, size group or cultivar shall not be displayed mixed with 
tomatoes of any other class, size group or cultivar  except in the case of speciality types of 
tomatoes ;  
 
(b) the  class, and country of or igin of the tomatoes shall be indicated in clear, legible block 
letters of at least 10mm on a notice board prominently placed at the quantity of tomatoes.  
 
  (8) Containers containing unclassified tomatoes shall be marked  unclassed  in clear and legible 
block letters and also comply with subregulations 10(1)(a), (b), (e ), and  (f)  and sub regulations 10(2), (3), 
(4) and (6).  
 
Prohibited particulars  
 
11. No wording, illustration or other device of expression which constitutes a misrepresentation or 
which directly or by implication can create a misleading impression of the contents shall appear on a 
container containing tomatoes or on a label affixed thereto or which is displayed therewith.  
 
 
SAMPLING PROCEDURES  
 
Obtaining a sample  
 
 12. (1) At least two percent of the containers in a consignment shall be drawn at random for 
inspection purposes and an inspector shall be satisfied that the containers so drawn are representative of 
the consignment concerned. An inspe ctor shall obtain a sample from a consignment by – 
 
(a) in the case of tomatoes packed in containers – 
 
(i) draw at least two percent of containers and satisfy him or herself that the 
containers abstracted are representative of the consignment concerned; and  
 
(ii) taking as inspection sample 25 tomatoes from each container obtained in 
subparagraph (i), or the en tire contents of the containers if the containers contain  
less than 25 tomatoes; and  
 
(b) in the case of tomatoes kept or displayed for sale in loose quantities – 
 
(i) taking separate samples from the various classes and size groups which have 
been identified; and  
 
(ii) taking as inspection sample at least 25 tomatoes at random from each quantity 
mentioned in subparagraph (i), or all the tomatoes if the number is less than 25 
tomatoes.  
 
  (2) Each sample that is taken in accordance with the provision s of subregulation  (1) shall be 
deemed to be representative of the quantity of tomatoes from which the samples have been taken.  
 
Deviating sample  
 
13.  If an inspector should notice during the process of drawing the random sample or during the 
inspection, that some of the containers derived from any part of the pallet load, truck load or consignment, 
contain tomatoes which are noticeably inferior to or d iffer from the contents of containers which represent 
the remainder of the pallet load, truck load or consignment, the inspection result shall be based only on the FINAL DRAFT  
 
 containers derived from the deviating portion of the pallet load, truck load or consignment,  and further 
samples required for inspection shall be drawn from this deviating portion . 
  
 
 
METHODS OF INSPECTION  
 
Determination of percentage in too green tomatoes  
 
14. The percentage of too green tomatoes shall be determined as follows:  
 
(a) Take from the inspection sample those tomatoes which are most likely to be too green.  
 
(b) Cut not more than four tomatoes open through the diameter thereof.  
 
(c) Determine visually how many of the tomatoes thus cut open, have pips which are 
undeveloped and not  covered with jelly.  
 
(d) Express the number thus determined as a percentage of the total number of tomatoes in 
that sample, which percentage represents the extent to which too green tomatoes occur in 
such sample.  
  
Determination of size variations  
 
15. The size variation shall where applicable be determined as follows:  
 
(a) Measure the diameter of each tomato in the inspection sample concerned.  
 
(b) Calculate the average diameter of the tomatoes in that inspection sample.  
 
(c) Determine the number of tomatoes in that inspection sample of which the diameter differs 
with more than 10  mm from the average thus calculated.  
 
(d) Express the number thus determined as a percentage of the total number of tomatoes in 
that inspection sampl e, which percentage represents the extent to which tomatoes with 
unacceptable size variations occur in the sample.  
 
Determination of percentage of quality factors other than too green tomatoes and size variations  
 
16. Percentage quality factors other than too green tomatoes and size variations shall be determined 
as follows:  
 
(a) Examine each tomato in the inspection sample concerned visually or if necessary, by 
handling it or cutting it.  
 
(b) Determine in respect of each of the various quality factors  the number of tomatoes in that 
inspection sample in which deviations occur.  
 
(c) Express the number in respect of each quality factor thus determined as a percentage of 
the total number of tomatoes in that inspection sample, which percentage represents th e 
extent to which tomatoes with the deviation concerned occur in the sample.  
 
OFFENCES AND PENA  LTIES  
 
17. Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of these regulations shall be guilty 
of an offense and upon conviction be liable to a  fine or imprisonment in consultation with article 11 of the 
Act. 
 
 
 
 FINAL DRAFT  
 
  
ANNEXURE S 
 
TABLE 1: QUALITY STANDARDS FOR TOMATOES  
 
 
 
Quality Factors   
 
Standards to be complied with  
 
Class 1   
Class 2   
Class 3  Lowest 
Class  
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5 
 
1. Decay   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  
  
20% 
 
2. Foreign  matter    
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  
  
* 
 
3. Firmness   
Fairly firm and not 
overripe   
Reasonably firm and 
not overripe   
May not have a blistered 
appearance (including 
speciality types tomatoes) 
and must still be firm 
enough to be sliced in 5 
mm slices (excluding 
Speciality types tomatoes)  
 * 
 
4. Blemishes  
 (excluding Speciality 
types  of tomatoes)   
Blemishes not 
deeper than 
1,5 mm and not 
exceeding a total 
area of  ±225  mm2 
(circle with a 
diameter of 15 mm) 
is permissible  
  
Blemishes not deeper 
than 1,5 mm and not 
exceeding a total area 
of ±340  mm2 (circle with 
diameter of 20 mm) is 
permissible   
Blemishes not deeper 
than 3 mm and not 
exceeding a total area of 
± 615 mm2 is permissible 
provided that not more 
than 20% of the tomato is 
cut away in one or more 
flat slices to remove 
damaged parts  * 
 
5. Cat faces  
(Disfigurement and 
blemishes at the 
flowering end of the 
tomato) (excluding 
Speciality types of 
tomatoes)   
A few scabby marks 
not deeper than 1,5 
mm or exceeding a 
total area of 
±225  mm2 (circle 
with a diameter of 
15 mm) is 
permissible   
Wrinkled and suber ic 
marks not deeper than 
1,5 mm and not 
exceeding a total area 
of ±340  mm2 is 
permissible   
Severe wrinkled and 
suberic parts with a total 
area of ±615  mm2 is 
permissible provided that 
no more than 20% of the 
tomato may be cut away 
in one  or more  flat slice to 
remove the malformed 
part * 
 
6. Cracks 
(a) Circular cracks 
(excluding Speciality 
types of tomatoes)   
Circular crack(s) 
not deeper than 1,5 
mm and which 
individually or 
collectively form a  
quarter circle is 
permissible  
 
 
 
  
Circular crack(s) not 
deeper than 1,5 mm 
and which individually 
or collectively form a 
half circle is permissible  
 
 
  
Circular crack(s) not 
deeper than 1,5 mm and 
which individually or 
collectively form a full 
circle is permissible  * FINAL DRAFT  
 
  
 
 
 
Quality Factors   
 
 
Standards to be complied with  
 
Class 1   
Class 2   
Class 3  Lowest 
Class  
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5 
 
(b) Stalk -end 
cracks or Radial 
cracks  (excluding 
Speciality types of 
tomatoes)   
One or more cracks 
which individually 
or collectively are 
not longer than 10 
mm and deeper 
than 1,5 mm is 
permissible   
One individual crack not 
longer than 20 mm and 
not deeper than 1,5 mm 
or two or more cracks 
which collectively are 
not longer than 20 mm 
or deeper than 1,5 mm 
is permissible   
Tomatoes in a poorer 
condition than Class 2:  
Provided that no more 
than 20% of the tomato 
must be cut away in one 
of more flat slices to 
remove th e damaged 
parts and that none of the 
cracks show any sign of 
decay   
* 
 
7. Bruises / 
Abrasion marks   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  * 
 
8. Colour defects 
Too green, 
(greenback / 
yellowback)  Blotchy 
ripening   
 
Not permissible  
  
 
Not     permissible   
 
Not permissible  * 
9. Appearance  Sound and 
attractive  Sound and attractive  Sound and attractive  
 * 
 
10. Shape  Well shaped for the 
relevant cultivar  Reasonably well 
shaped for the relevant 
cultivar  
 Tomatoes with points are 
permissible  * 
 
11. Injury  
  
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  35%  
12. Leaking 
tomatoes  (not 
regarded as decay)   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  
  
20%*  
 
13. Mosaic   
Not permissible  Mosaic stain with an 
area of not more than 
12,5%  (1/8) of the total 
surface of the tomatoes 
is permissible, provided 
that no blistered 
appearance is present  Mosaic stain with an area 
not more than 50% of the 
total surface of the tomato 
is permissible  
 * 
 
14. Sunburn   
Not permissible  A light yellow colour 
without any sign of 
leatheriness and 
sunkenness is 
permissible  A yellow colour, 
sunkenness and 
leatheriness is permissible 
provided that not more 
than 20% of the tomato 
must be cut away in one 
or more  flat slices to 
remove damaged parts 
and no sign of decay is  
present  * 
 
15. Dust   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  
     * FINAL DRAFT  
 
  
 
Quality Factors   
 
Standards to be complied with  
  
Class 1   
Class 2   
Class 3  Lowest 
Class  
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5 
16. Soil covered  Not permissible  Mud-smeared during 
handling and light soil 
splatters is permissible  Soil covered tomato due 
to contact with soil during 
growth period is 
permissible, provided that 
the tomato has not 
decayed  
  
* 
17. Tuta Absoluta     
damage  Damage not 
exceeding 1mm2 
and not affecting 
more than 10% of 
tomatoes or one 
tomato per 
container  Damage not exceeding 
25mm2 and not 
affecting more than 
10% of tomatoes or one 
tomato per container  Damage not exceeding 
100mm2 and not affecting 
more than 10% of 
tomatoes or one tomato 
per container  * 
 
18. Chilling injury / 
pitting  
       
Not permissible  
  
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
 
* 
19. Bacterial speck  Not permissible  Bacterial speck with an 
area of not more than 
12,5%  (1/8) of the total 
surface of the tomatoes 
is permissible, provided 
that no blistered 
appearance is present  Bacterial speck with an 
area not more than 50% of 
the total surface of the 
tomato is permissible  
  
 
* 
20. Insect puncture 
marks/ insect 
damage   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
* 
21. Unspecified 
defects other than 
those mentioned in 
items 1 - 20  
Not permissible   
Not permissible   
Not permissible  * 
22. Colour 
variation s 
(excluding speciality  
types of tomatoes)  Tomatoes in the 
same container 
should be uniform 
in colour and 
ripeness  
 Tomatoes in the same 
container should be 
uniform in colour and 
ripeness  Different colour may be 
packaged together  
 * 
23. Size variation 
(excluding Speciality 
types of  tomatoes)  Fairly uniform in 
size:  Provided that, 
in the case of 
Speciality types of  
tomatoes, only 
4 mm difference is 
permissible 
between the largest 
and smallest 
tomato in the same 
container is allowed  Reasonably uniform in 
size:  Provided that, in 
the case of Sp eciality 
types of  tomatoes,, 
only 4 mm difference is 
permissible between 
the largest and the 
smallest tomato  
 Different sizes may be 
packed together:  
Provided that in the case 
of Speciality types of  
tomatoes, only 4  mm 
difference is permissible 
between  the largest ad the 
smallest tomato  
 * 
   • Means Not applicable   
 
 FINAL DRAFT  
 
 TABLE 2:  SIZE GROUPS AND MASS RANGES FOR ROUND TOMATOES  
 
 
Size groups   
 
Symbols   
Diameter range to be complied with  
  
 
Mass ranges  
 
Minimum -maximum  
 
   
 
Class 1   
 
Class 2   
 
Class 3   
Lowest 
Class   
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7 
 
Extra Small   
XS  
45-50 mm   
45-50 mm   
45-50 mm   
*  
60-75g 
 
Small   
S  
50-55 mm   
50-55 mm   
50-55 mm   
*  
75-91g 
 
Medium small   
MS  
55-62 mm   
55-62 mm   
55-62 mm   
*  
91-122g  
 
Medium   
M  
62-68 mm   
62-68 mm   
62-68 mm   
*  
122-147g  
 
Medium Plus   
M+  
68-76 mm   
68-76 mm   
68-76 mm   
*  
147-215g  
 
Large   
L  
76-85 mm   
76-85 mm   
76-85 mm   
*  
215-260g  
 
Extra Large   
XL  
85-95 mm   
85-95 mm   
85-95 mm   
*  
>260g  
 
 
 
TABLE 3:  SIZE GROUPS AND MASS RANGES FOR ELONGATED  TOMATOES  
(ROMA)  
 
 
Size groups   
 
Symbols   
Diameter range to be complied with  
  
 
Mass ranges  
 
Minimum - maximum  
     
Class 1   
Class 2  
  
Class 3  
  
Lowest 
Class   
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7 
 
Small   
S  
49-55 mm   
49 – 55 mm   
49-55 mm   
*  
50-80g 
 
Medium small   
MS  
55-62 mm   
55- 62 mm   
55- 62 mm   
*  
80-110g  
 
Medium   
M  
62-68 mm   
62- 68 mm   
62- 68 mm   
*  
110-150g  
 
Medium Plus   
M+  
68-75 mm   
68-76 mm   
68-76 mm   
*  
150-190g  
 
Large   
L  
+75 mm   
+75 mm   
+75 mm   
*  
+190g  
 
 
 
 
 
 FINAL DRAFT  
 
 TABLE 3: PERMISSIBLE DEVIATIONS IN RESPECT OF QUALITY FACTORS BY 
NUMBER  
 
Quality Factors  Maximum extent to which deviations may occur in tomatoes that 
are classified as - 
 
Class 1   
Class 2   
Class 3   
Lowest Class  
 
1  
2  
3  
4  
5 
 
1. Decay   
1%  
2%  
5% 
  
20% 
 
2. Foreign matter  
  
2%   
8%  
12%  
* 
3. Firmness,  scars,  
       blemishes, cracks, 
bruises, too green, 
appearance, form, 
injuries, leaking 
tomatoes, mosaïc,  Tuta 
Absoluta , sunburn, dust, 
soil, and other quality 
factors  referred to in item 
17 Table 1 individualy   
 
 
 
 
5%  
 
 
 
 
15%  
 
 
 
 
25%  
 
 
 
 
* 
 
4.       Bacterial speck  
   
0%  
15%  
25%  
* 
5. Deviations referred to 
in items 1, 2 and 3 
collectively: provided that 
the deviations individually 
are within the specified 
requirements  
  
 
 
 
5%  
 
 
 
15%  
 
 
 
25%  
 
 
 
* 
6. Size groups  
(excluding Speciality type 
of tomatoes)  
  
10%  
15%  
25% 
  
* 
 
7. Size variations  
  
10%  
15%  
25%  
* 
 
8. Colour variations  
  
20%  
25%  
*  
* 
     
     
 
* Not applicable