DNAM  0025: 202 3 
                      First Edition  
  
 
 
 
 
NAMIBIAN STANDARD  
  
     
    
    
     
Marketing and com mercial quality control of 
Melon s 
 
   
 
 
This Namibian standard is a home grown standard  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published by the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI)  
Established by section 2 of the Standards Act, 2005 (Act No 18 of 2005)   
37 Feld Street  
P.O. Box 26364 Windhoek, Namibia  
Tel +264 -61386400, Fax +264 -61-386454  
Website: wwwnsi.com.na  
© NSI
DNAMS 0025: 2023  
First Edition   
1   
 
Contents   
National foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  2 
1. Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
2. Normative  referen ces ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
3. Terms and  Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
4. Provisions concerning quality  ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
4.1  Minimum requirements  ................................ ................................ ..............................  4 
4.2  Maturity requirements  ................................ ................................ ...............................  5 
4.3  Classification  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
4.3.1  Class I  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  5 
4.3.2  Class II  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
5. Provisions concerning sizing  ................................ ................................ ....................  6 
6. Provisions concerning tolerances  ................................ ................................ ............  6 
6.1  Quality tolerances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
6.1.1  Class  I ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  6 
6.1.2  Class  II ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
6.2 Size tolerance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  6 
7. Provisions concerning presentation  ................................ ................................ .........  6 
7.1  Uniformity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  6 
7.2  Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  7 
8. Provisions concerning marking  ................................ ................................ ................  7 
8.1  Identification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  7 
8.2  Nature of produce  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 8 
8.3  Origin of produce ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 8 
8.4  Commercial specifications  ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
8.5  Official control mark or Official Inspection Mark (optional)  ................................ ........  8 
9. Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
10. Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
 
 
 
 
 
 DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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National foreword  
 
This Namibian Standard  (NAMS)  is a homegrown and was approved for adoptions b y the 
Namibian Standards Institution CEO.  
 
Namibian standards are developed based on NSI Standards development procedures in 
accordance with the rules gi ven in the International Organis ation fo r Standardisation/  
International El ectrot echnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Direc tives and WTO – TBT World Trade 
Organisation code of Good Practice (which is published as Annex 3 in the TBT Agreement)  
 
The NSI Management Technic al Committee responsible for this standard is NSI TC 3, 
Food Safety Management Systems, Subcommittee SC3 on Horticulture products 
standards  
 
 
 
 
This NAMS 002 5:2023 was published in ……2023   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DNAMS 0025: 2023  
First Edition   
3  Marketing and com mercial quality control of 
Melons 
 
 
1. Scope  
 
This document applies to Melon varieties (cultivars) grown from Cucumis melo L , to be 
supplied fresh to the consumer. Melons such as the Charentais, Galia and Ogen  type of 
melons. Melons for industrial processing are excluded.  
 
2. Normative  references  
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their 
content constitutes requirements of this documents. For dated references, only the edition 
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced d ocument 
(including any amendments) applies.  Information on currently valid national and international 
standards are obtained from the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI)  
 
UNECE Standard FFV -23, Concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of 
melons 
 
CODEX STAN 193 - 1995 , Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxin in 
Food and Feed  
  
CAC/RCP 1 - 1969 , Recommended International Code of Practice - General Principle 
of Food Hygiene  
  
CAC/RCP 53 - 2003 , Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  
 
CAC/GL 21 - 1997 , Principle for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria 
for Foods  
 
CAC/RCP 44 – 1995, Recommended International Code of Practice for Packaging and 
Transport of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  
 
ISO 874, Fresh  fruits and vegetables - Sampling  
 
3. Terms and  Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this document, the following definitions apply.  
 
3.1 
Bulk container  
truck, any vehicle or container used for the transportation or storage of melons  
 
 DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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4  3.2 
Carrier container  
container in which more than one consumer packages are packed  
 
3.3  
Consignment  
quantity  of fruits  or  fresh  vegetable  of the same  kind,  belonging  to the same  owner  and delivered 
at the same  time under  cover  of the same  delivery  note,  consignment  note or receipt  note, or 
delivered by the same vehicle;  or in the case of a quantity of fruit or  fresh vegetable that is 
divided into different cultivars, classes, pallet  loads,  trademarks,  counts,  size groups  or types  
of packaging,  every  quantity  of each of the different cultivars, classes, pallet loads, trademarks, 
counts, size groups or types of packaging  
 
3.4 
Decay  
state of decomposition or fungus development except dry stem -end rot, partly or completely 
affecting the quality of the melons detrimentally  
 
3.5 
Foreign matter  
any material not normally p resent in, on or among melon s with the exception of soil;  
 
4. Provisions concerning quality  
 
This document  describes the quality requirements for Melons  after preparation and 
packaging.  
 
However,  if applied  at stages  following  warehousing  and distribution,  products  may show  in 
relation  to the requirements of the  standard:  
• a slight lack of freshness  
• a slight deterioration due to their development and their tendency to  perish.  
 
The holder/seller of products shall  not display such products or offer them for sale, or 
deliver or market them in any manner other than in conformity with this standard. The 
holder/seller shall be responsible for observing such conformity.  
 
4.1 Minimum requirements  
 
In all classes, subject  to tolerances allowed, the melons of shall be: 
 
• intact, whole, fresh and firm;  
• clean and free from visible foreign matters;  
• practically free from mechanical and or physiology damage;  
• practically free pests and free from damage by pest affecting the flesh;  
• fresh in appearance, have a shape, colour and taste characteristics of the variety;  
• free of any foreign smell and /or taste;  
• free from abnormal external moisture;  
• produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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5  excluded.  
 
The development and condition of the melons must be such as to enable them to withstand 
transportation and handling to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.  
 
4.2 Maturity requirements  
 
Melon harvested must be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory maturity/ripeness. In 
order to satisfy the ripeness requirement, the refractive index (total soluble solid content) of 
the flesh measured at the middle point of the fruit flesh and the equatorial section must be   
equal to or greater than 8%.  
 
4.3 Classification  
 
Melons are classified in two classes, as defined below:  
 
4.3.1 Class I  
 
Melons in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety and/or 
commercial type.  
 
The following defects, however, may be allowed, provided these do not affect the general 
appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package:  
 
- slight defects in shape  
- slight defects in colouring (a pale discolo uring of the rind at the point where the fruit touched 
the ground    while is a not regarded as a defect)  
- slight skin defects due to rubbing and handling  
- slight defects such as blemishes. The total area affected shall not exceed 10% of the total 
surfac e.  
 
The defects must not, in any case, affect the flesh of the fruit.  The stem if present shall not  
exceed 2 cm.   
 
4.3.2 Class II  
 
This class includes melon, that do not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfy the minimum 
requirements specified in Section 4.1.  
 
The following defects, however, may be allowed, provided melons retain their essential 
characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:  
 
- defects in shape  
- slight defects in colouring (a pale discolouring of th e rind at the point where the fruit touched 
the ground    while is a not regarded as a defect)  
- slight bruising  
- slight skin defects due to rubbing and handling  
- slight defects such as blemishes. The total area affected shall not exceed 20% of the total  DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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6  surface  
- slight scratches that do not affect the flesh of the fruit and are dry.  
 
The defects must not, in any case, affect the flesh of the fruit.  The stem if present shall not 
exceed 2 cm.  
 
5. Provisions concerning sizing  
 
The size is determined by the weight of one unit or by the diameter of equatorial section. The 
minimum sizes are as follows:  
 
Sizing by weight:  
- Charentais, Galia and Ogen type of melons     250 g  
- Other melons         300 g  
 
Sizing by diameter:  
- Charentais, Galia and Ogen type of melons     7.5 cm  
- Other melons         8.0 cm  
 
6. Provisions concerning tolerances  
 
At all marketing stages, tolerances in respect of quality shall be allowed in each 
package for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.  
 
     6.1 Quality tolerances  
 
     6.1.1 Class  I 
 
A total tolerance of 10 % , by number or weight, of melons not satisfying the requirements of 
this class, but meeting those of Class II is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 1 per 
cent in total may consist of produce satisfying neither the requirements of Class II quality  nor 
the minimum requirements (Section 4.1), or of produce affected by decay.  
 
      6.1.2 Class  II 
 
A total tolerance of  15% by number or weight of melon not satisfying the minimum 
requirements of melons (Section 4.1) or that of Class I 
 
6.2 Size tolerance  
 
For all classes, 10% by number or weight of melon not satisfying the requirements as 
regards sizing, but falling within the size immediately above or belo w those indicated in 
Section 5.  
 
7. Provisions concerning presentation  
 
7.1 Uniformity  DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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a) The contents of each package (or lot for  produce presented in bulk) shall  be uniform 
and contain only melon of the same variety, origin, quality, colour, size and the same 
degree of development and ripeness   
b) The visible part of the contents of the package (or lot for  produce presented in bulk) 
shall be repres entative of the entire contents  
 
c) However, a mixture of melons of distinctly different varieties and/or commercial types 
may be packed together in a package provided they are uniform in quality and, for 
each  variety or comme rcial type concerned, in origin  
 
d) In the case of those mixtures uniformity in size is not required. The visible part of the 
contents of the package shall be repres entative of the entire contents  
 
7.2 Packaging  
 
a) Melons shall be properly pack ed in such a way as to protect the produce.  
 
b) The materi als used inside the package shall  be clean and of good quality such as to 
avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce.  
 
c) The use of materials, particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is 
allowed, provided the printing or labelling has been done with non -toxic ink or glue.  
 
d) Packages (or lot for  produce presented in bulk) shall  be free  of foreign matter an d 
smell.  
 
e) The containers shall meet quality, hygiene, ventilation and resistance characteristics 
to ensure suitable handling, transportation and preserving of the Melons.  
 
f) Melons shall be packed in each c ontainer in compliance with CAC/RCP 44 -1995  
 
8. Provisions concerning marking  
 
Each package shall bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly 
and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside printed either on the package itself or on a 
label secured to the fastening.  
 
8.1 Identification  
 
The following information shall be available:  
 
a) Packer and or dispatcher/ shipper name and physical address or postal address of  
the producer, exporter or owner of the content in the container to be  provided  
 
b) The producer registration code  or pack -house registration code, which is registered 
with the competent authority by the producer, exporte r or pack - house  
 DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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8  c) If the producer has, more than one establishment shall  be registered separately   
 
d) In the case where retailers/wholesalers and or t raders may provide their preferred 
branded  packaging material to producers for on farm packaging, that at least a 
sticker be placed on such a product that would identify the origin of the  produce  
 
8.2 Nature of produce  
 
a) Each package / lot shall be labelled as to the name of the produce and may be 
labelled as to the name of the variety or commercial type: e.g. “Melons”, “Mixture of 
melons”   
 
b) “Mixture of melons”, or equ ivalent denomination is used, if  the case of a mixture of 
distinctly different varieties or commercial types of melons. If the produce is not 
visible from the outside, the varieties and/or commercial types and the quan tity of 
each in the package shall  be indicated  
 
8.3 Origin of produce  
 
Country of origin  and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place   
  
In the case of a mixture of melons of distinctly different varieties and/or commercial types of 
melons of different origins, the indication of each origin shall appear next to the name of the 
variety/commercial type concerned.  
 
8.4 Commercial specifications  
 
- Class  
- Size, expressed as minimum and maximum weight or as minimum and maximum 
diameter  
- Number of units (optional)  
- Nett weight (optional)   
 
8.5 Official control mark or Official Inspection Mark (optional)  
 
Mark of an agency that conducted the quality inspection and offer certificate of conformity  
 
9. Contaminants  
The melon  shall comply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides established by the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
 
 
 
10.  Hygiene  
 
It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared 
and handled in accordance with the appropriate sections o f the CAC/RCP 1 -1969,   DNAMS 0025: 2023  
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9  CAC/RCP 53 -2003 , and other relevant Codex text such as Codes of  Hygienic Practice 
and Codes of  Practice.  
 
The produce shall  comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance  with 
CAC/GL 21 -1997