PUBLIC REVIEW  DRAFT  UGANDA STAN DARD  
  DUS 985 
First Edition  
2013-00-00 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 985: 2013 
© UNBS 2013  
   
Apple  — Specification  DUS 985: 2013 
ii © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNB S 2013  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS.  
Requ ests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: 256 41 4 505 995  
Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: unbs@i nfocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  WDUS 985:2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights res erved  iii 
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastata l under the Ministry of Trade,  Industry  and 
corporations  established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co -ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agreements of the World Trade Organisatio n (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manuf acturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Final Draft Uganda Standard has been developed as a result of a need to provide guidance to industry in 
production and regulation of Fresh tomatoes   
Committee membership  
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries   
Uganda National Farmer  s Federation  
Uganda Consumer Protection Association  
Ministry of Trade and Corporative  
Horticulture Exports Association of Uganda  
Federation of Uganda Exporters Association  
Government Analytical Laboratory  
National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda  
Makerere University  
Sulma Foods Ltd  
 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 985: 2013 
 
© UNBS 2013– All rights reserved  1 
 Apple  —Specification  
1 Scope  
This Standard applies to fruits of commercial varieties (cultivars) of apples grown from Malus  
domestica Borkh , of the Rosaceae family, to be su pplied fresh to the consumer, after preparation and  
packaging. Apples for industrial processing are excluded.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the e dition cited applies.  
US 7, Uganda Standard specification for the labelling of pre -packaged foods.  
US 28, Code of practice for hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following t erms and definitions shall apply  
3.1  
disease  
Any unhealthy condition caused by any fungus, bacteria, virus or insect.  
3.2  
injury   
Any defect which more than slightly affects the appearance or edible quality of the apple  
3.4 
foreign  matter  
any foreign s ubstances which affects the appearance and typical smell of the avocado fruit . 
4 Essential quality  
4.1 Minimum Requirements  
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the apples  
 must be:  
 whole, the stalk ( stem) may be missing, provided the break is clean and the adjacent skin is not  
 damaged;  
 sound, produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is  
 excluded;  DUS 985: 2013 
2 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
  firm; 
 clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter;  
 practically free of pests and damage caused by them affecting the general appearance of the 
 produce;  
 free of abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following removal from cold  storage;  
 free of any foreign smell and/or taste;  
 free of damage c aused by low and/or high temperatures;  
 practically free of signs of dehydration.  
 
The apples must have colour that is characteristic of the variety and the area in which they are grown.  The 
development and condition of the apples must be such as to enable them  to; 
a) withstand transport and handling; and  
b) arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination  
4.2 Maturity  Requirements  
Apples must be at a stage of development that enables them to continue the ripening process and to  
reach a stage of ripene ss required in relation to the varietal characteristics.  
 
In order to verify the minimum maturity requirements some parameters such as: morphological  
aspects, firmness and refractometric index can be considered.  
 
4.3 Classification  
In accordance with the d efects allowed in the Annex A- Maximum Allowance for Defects, apples are  
classified in three classes defined below:  
 
4.3.1 “Extra” Class  
Apples in this class must be of superior quality. The flesh must be sound. They must be characteristic  
of the variety. T hey must be free of defects, with the exception of very slight superficial defects, provided  
these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in  
the package.  
 
4.3.2 Class I  
Apples in this class mu st be of good quality. The flesh must be sound. They must be characteristic of  
the variety. The following slight defects, however, may be allowed, provided these do not affect the general  
appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and pres entation in the package:  
 
 a slight defect in shape and development  
 a slight defect in colouring;  
 slight skin or other defects (see the Annex).  DUS 985: 201 3 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  3 
 4.3.3 Class II  
This class includes apples which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes, but satisfy t he 
minimum requirements specified in Section 5.1 above. The following defects, however, may be allowed,  
provided the apples retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and  
presentation:  
 
 defects in shape and developme nt 
 defects in colouring  
 skin or other defects (see the Annex).  
4.4 Colouring  
In all classes, in the absence of national legislation, the following colour codes may be applied except  
for green and yellow apple varieties  
 
Code      Percentage of colour  
A      75% or more  
B      50% or more  
C      25% or mor e 
D      Less than 25  
5 Provisions Concerning Sizing  
Size is determined by maximum diameter of the equatorial section or by weight of each apple.  
For all varieties and all classes the minimum size is 60 mm i f measured by diameter or 90 g if  
measured by weight.  
 
Fruit of smaller sizes may be accepted provided the Brix level of the produce meets or  
exceeds 10.5° Brix and the size is not smaller than 50 mm or 70 g.  
6 Provisions concerning tolerances  
Tolerances i n respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each lot for produce not satisfying the  
requirements of the class indicated.  
 
6.1 Quality tolerances  
The application of the following tolerances should take into accounts that at stages following export,  
products may show in relation to t he requirements of the standard;  
 
 a slight lack of freshness and turgidity  
 for products graded in classes other than the “Extra” Class, a slight deterioration due to their  
development and their tendency to perish . DUS 985: 2013 
4 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 6.1.1 “Extra” Class  
Five percent by number or weight of apples not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting  
those of Class I or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.  
Included therein shall be allowed not more than 1.0% for apples a ffected by decay or internal  
breakdown . 
 
6.1.2 Class I  
Ten percent by number or weight of apples not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting  
those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.  
 
Included therein sh all be allowed not more than 1% for apples affected by decay or internal  
breakdown . 
 
6.1.3 Class II  
 
Ten percent by number or weight of apples satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the  
minimum requirements, with the exception of apples affec ted by decay or internal breakdown that should not  
be more than 2%.  
 
Included therein shall be allowed, a maximum of 2% by number or weight of fruit which may show  
the following defects:  
 cork like blemishing (bitter pit);  
 slight damage or unhealed broken s kin/cracks;  
 presence of internal feeding insects/pests or damage to the flesh caused by pests.  
6.2 Size tolerances  
For all classes of fruit subjected to rules of uniformity, 10% by number or weight of apples not  
meeting the size indicated on the package.  
 
This tolerance may not be extended to include produce with a size below 50 mm or 70 g if the  
refractometric index is below 10.5°Brix  
7 Provisions concerning presentation  
7.1 Uniformity  
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only apples of  the same origin, quality,  
size (if sized) and variety.  
 
For “Extra” Class , colour should be uniform.  
 
Sales packages (of a net weight not  exceeding 5 kg) may contain mixtures of varieties and sizes provided 
they are uniform in quality, and for  each  variet y concerned, its origin.  
 
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of  the entire contents except for mixed 
sizes and varieties.  
 
The uniformity of apples may be measured in accordance with one of the following options:  
 
i.  By di ameter:  
 DUS 985: 201 3 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  5 
 The maximum diameter difference of apples in the same package shall be limited to:  
 5 mm if the diameter of the smallest apples is less than 80 mm  
 12 mm if the diameter of the smallest apple is equal to or over 80 mm  
ii.  By weight:  
The maximum differe nce by weight between apples in the same package shall be limited to:  
 15 g if the weight of the smallest apple is 90 g.  
 20 g if the weight of the smallest appl e 90 g and over but under 135 g  
 30 g if the weight of the smallest apple is  135 g and over but un der 200 g  
 40 g if the weight of the smallest apple is 200 g and over but unde r 300 g  
 50 g if the weight of the smallest apple is over 300 g.  
There is no size uniformity for apples packed loose in the package or sales package.  
7.2 Packaging  
Apple  fruits mus t be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly. The materials used inside the 
package must be of food grade  quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the 
produce.  
The use of materials, particularly of paper or stamp s bearing trade specifications is allowed, provided the 
printing or labelling has been done with non -toxic ink or glue.  
8 Hygiene  
Apples  shall be produced and handled in accordance with US 28 . 
9 Contaminants  
The produce covered by this Standard shall c omply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides  
established by th e Codex Alimentarius Commission  
10 Labelling  
In addition to the requirements of the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods  
(US 7 ), the following specific provisions appl y: 
 
 Name of the  produce as “Fresh Apples” if the produce is not visible from the outside, name of the 
variety, class, colour code (if used) . 
 Size/weight or the  number of pieces presented in rows and layers.  DUS 985: 2013 
6 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
  ANNEX A  
(normative)  
 
Maximum Allowance For Defects  
Defects Allowed  
 “Extra” Class  Class I  Class II  
Russetting 
outside  
Calyx/stem 
cavity  smooth net -
like 3% of surface area  20% of surface area  50% of surface area  
smooth solid  1% of surface area  5% of surface area  33%of surface area  
Accumulation for both types 
of russetting  should not 
exceed the following  3% of surface area  20% of surface area  50% 
of surface area  
Accumulated Blemishes & 
Bruising:  
- Bruises with slight 
discoloration;  
- Scars caused by Scabs3 
(Venturia  inaequalis ); 
- other defects/blemish 
including heal ed hail marks  0.50 cm 2 1.0 cm2 
0.25 cm2 
1.0 cm2 1.5 cm2 6 
1.0 cm2 
2.5 cm2 
Stem or Calyx cracks 
(healed or well cured)  ….. 0.5cm  1cm 
Maximum length of 
elongated shaped  defects  ….. 2 cm  4 cm  
 
Russetting can be simply described as a “brownish roughened area or streaks on the skin of the apple”. In  
some apple varieties rusetting is a characteristic of the variety and for others a quality defect. Allowances for  
russetting will be applied to apple varieties that russetting is not a characteristic of.  
 
 
1 
                                                   
6 Bruising with discoloration and dark blemishes not bl ending with skin color are accepted in this Class.   DUS 985: 201 3 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  7 
 Bibliography  
[1] Codex Standard For Apples CODEX STAN 29 9-2010)DUS 985: 2013 
© UNBS 2013– All rights reserved  9 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, an d the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a pro duct or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UN BS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 DUS 985: 201 3   
 
ICS 60.080.20  
Price based on nn pages  
© UNBS 2013– All rights reserved