# L_2005062EN.01000501.xml

| 9.3.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 62/5 |
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9.3.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 62/5

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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 387/2005

of 8 March 2005

amending (EC) Regulation No 831/97 laying down marketing standards applicable to avocados

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (1), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | The Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) has recently amended standard FFV-42 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of avocados. For the sake of clarity and international transparency, account should be taken of such amendments in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/97 (2). |
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(1)

The Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) has recently amended standard FFV-42 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of avocados. For the sake of clarity and international transparency, account should be taken of such amendments in Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/97 (2).

| (2) | Maturity and development of avocados can be assessed by their dry matter contents. In order to exclude fruit unable to ripen, a requirement as to the minimum dry matter content should be introduced. |
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(2)

Maturity and development of avocados can be assessed by their dry matter contents. In order to exclude fruit unable to ripen, a requirement as to the minimum dry matter content should be introduced.

| (3) | Trade in small-sized Hass avocados is growing and meets the demand of certain consumers. It is therefore necessary to decrease the minimum size for avocados of this variety. |
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(3)

Trade in small-sized Hass avocados is growing and meets the demand of certain consumers. It is therefore necessary to decrease the minimum size for avocados of this variety.

| (4) | Regulation (EC) No 831/97 should therefore be amended accordingly. |
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(4)

Regulation (EC) No 831/97 should therefore be amended accordingly.

| (5) | The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, |
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(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 831/97 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 May 2005.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 March 2005.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL

Member of the Commission

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(1)  
  OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 47/2003 (OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 64).

1

(2)  
  OJ L 119, 8.5.1997, p. 13. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 907/2004 (OJ L 163, 30.4.2004, p. 50).

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ANNEX

The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 831/97 is amended as follows:

| 1. | Title II (Provisions concerning quality) is amended as follows:






  (a) | in point A (Minimum requirements), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

  ‘Avocados must be firm and carefully picked.’ |
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1.

Title II (Provisions concerning quality) is amended as follows:

(a)

in point A (Minimum requirements), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘Avocados must be firm and carefully picked.’

| (b) | the following point Aa is inserted:
  ‘Aa.   Maturity
  The development of the avocados should have reached a physiological stage which will ensure a continuation of the ripening process to completion.
  The fruit should have the following minimum dry matter content, to be measured by drying to constant weight:






  — | 21 % for the variety Hass, |
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(b)

the following point Aa is inserted:

‘Aa.   Maturity

The development of the avocados should have reached a physiological stage which will ensure a continuation of the ripening process to completion.

The fruit should have the following minimum dry matter content, to be measured by drying to constant weight:

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21 % for the variety Hass,

| — | 20 % for the varieties Fuerte, Pinkerton, Reed and Edranol, |
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20 % for the varieties Fuerte, Pinkerton, Reed and Edranol,

| — | 19 % for the other varieties except for Antillean varieties that may show a lower dry matter content. |
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19 % for the other varieties except for Antillean varieties that may show a lower dry matter content.

The ripe fruit should be free from bitterness.’

| 2. | Title III (Provisions concerning sizing) is amended as follows:






  (a) | in the table of the first subparagraph, the following line is added:






  ‘80 to 125 (Hass variety only) | S (1)’ |
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2.

Title III (Provisions concerning sizing) is amended as follows:

(a)

in the table of the first subparagraph, the following line is added:

‘80 to 125 (Hass variety only)

S (1)’

| (b) | The second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

  ‘The minimum weight of avocados must not be less than 125 g except for avocados of the Hass variety, which must not be less than 80 g.’ |
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(b)

The second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘The minimum weight of avocados must not be less than 125 g except for avocados of the Hass variety, which must not be less than 80 g.’

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(1)  The difference between the smallest and largest fruit within a package should not exceed 25 g.

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