1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No1455/1999
of1July1999
layingdownthemarketingstandardforsweetpeppers
(OJ L 167, 2.7.1999, p. 22)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Regulation (EC) No 2706/2000 of 11 December 2000 L 311 35 12.12.2000
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COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No1455/1999
of1July1999
layingdownthemarketingstandardforsweetpeppers
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), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999(2),
and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,
(1)Whereas sweet peppers are listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC)No 2200/96 as products for which standards are to be adopted;whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 79/88 of 13 January1988 laying down quality standards for lettuces, curled-leavedendives, broad-leaved (Batavian) endives and sweet peppers(
3), as
last amended by Regulation (EC) No 888/97(4), has been
amended many times and no longer ensures legal clarity;
(2)Whereas, in the interests of clarity, the rules on sweet peppersshould be separated from those on other products under
Regulation (EEC) No 79/88; whereas the rules in question shouldtherefore be recast and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 79/88on sweet peppers deleted; whereas, to that end, for reasons oftransparency on the world market, account should be taken of thestandard recommended for sweet peppers by the Working Party
on Standardisation of the Perishable Produce and Quality
Development of the United Nations Economic Commission forEurope (UN/ECE);
(3)Whereas the effect of these standards must be to remove productsof unsatisfactory quality from the market, gear production tosatisfying consumer requirements and facilitate trade relations onthe basis of fair competition, thereby helping to make productionmore profitable;
(4)Whereas the standards are applicable at all stages of marketing;whereas transport over a great distance, storage for a certainlength of time and the various handling operations to which the
products are subjected may bring about deterioration due to the
biological development of the products or their perishability;whereas account should be taken of such deterioration whenapplying the standards at the marketing stages following dispatch;
(5)Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are inaccordance with the opinion of the Management Committee forFresh Fruit and Vegetables,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The marketing standard for sweet peppers covered by CN code
0709 60 10 shall be as set out in the Annex.
The standard shall apply at all stages of marketing under the conditions
laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.
However, at stages following dispatch, the products may show, in
relation to the provisions of the standards, a slight lack of freshness and
turgidity, and slight deteriorations due to their development and theirtendency to perish.1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 100, 26.6.1999, p. 80.
(3) OJ L 10, 14.1.1988, p. 8.
(4) OJ L 126, 17.5.1997, p. 11.
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Article 2
Regulation (EEC) No 79/88 is amended as follows:1. in the title, ‘curled-leaved endives, broad-leaved (Batavian) endives
and sweet peppers’ is replaced by ‘curled-leaved endives and broad-
leaved (Batavian) endives’;
2. the first paragraph of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
‘The quality standards for lettuces, curled-leaved endives and broad-
leaved (Batavian) endives falling within subheadings 0705 11,ex 0705 19 and 0705 29 00 of the Combined Nomenclature shallbe as set out in the Annex.’;
3. Annex II is deleted.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its
publication in the Official Journl of the European Communities .
It shall apply from the first day of the month following that of its entry
into force.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in
all Member States.1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 3
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ANNEX
STANDARDFORSWEETPEPPERS
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to sweet peppers of varieties (cultivars) grown from
Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum, to be supplied fresh to the consumer,
sweet peppers for industrial processing being excluded.
According to their shape a distinction is made for four commercial types:
— elongated sweet peppers (pointed),
— square sweet peppers (blunt),
— square tapering sweet peppers (peg top),
— flat sweet peppers (tomato peppers).
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for sweet
peppers after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimumrequirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, the sweet peppers must be:
— intact,
— sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it
unfit for consumption is excluded,
— clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter,
— fresh in appearance,
— practically free from pests,
— practically free from damage caused by pests,— well-developed,
— free of damage caused by frost,
— free of unhealed injuries,
— free of sunburn [except for the specifications in Chapter B:
Classification, point (ii)],
— with peduncles attached,
— free of abnormal external moisture,
— free of any foreign smell and/or taste.
The development and condition of the sweet peppers must be such as to
enable them to:
— withstand transport and handling, and
— arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.
B.Classification
Sweet peppers are classified in two classes, defined below:
(i)Class I
Sweet peppers in this class must be of good quality. They must be
characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type as regards
development, shape and colour with due regard to the degree of
ripeness.
They must be:
— firm,
— practically free of blemishes.
The peduncle may be slightly damaged or cut with the calyx intact.
(ii)Class II
This class includes sweet peppers which do not qualify for inclusion
in Class I but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 4
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The following defects may be allowed provided the peppers retain
their essential characteristics as regards the quality, keeping quality
and presentation:
— defects in shape and development,
— sunburn or slight healed injuries, with a limit of 2 cm in length
for defects of elongated shape, and 1 cm2of the total area for
other defects,
— slight dry superficial cracks not exceeding an overall cumulative
length of 3 cm.
They may be less firm without being withered.
The peduncle may be damaged or cut.
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the shoulder diameter (width) of the sweet peppers. In
the case of flat sweet peppers (tomato peppers) the term ‘width’ means the
maximum equatorial diameter.
For sized sweet peppers, the difference in diameter between the largest and
smallest sweet pepper in the same package may not exceed 20 mm.
The width of sweet peppers may not be less than:
— elongated sweet peppers (pointed): 20 mm
— square sweet peppers (blunt) and square tapering sweet peppers (peg-
top): 40 mm
— flat sweet peppers (tomato peppers): 55 mm
Sizing is not compulsory for Class II, subject to the minimum sizes.
The size requirements shall not apply to miniature produce(1).
IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES
Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package for
produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.
A.Qualitytolerances
(i)Class I
10 % by number or weight of sweet peppers not satisfying the
requirements of the class, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally,
coming within the tolerances of that class.
(ii)Class II
10 % by number or weight of sweet peppers satisfying neither the
requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, with the
exception of produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration
rendering it unfit for consumption.
B.Sizetolerances
(i)Class I
10 % by number or weight of sweet peppers not conforming to the
sizes identified within a margin of ± 5 mm including no more than 5 %
of sweet peppers below the minimum size laid down.
(ii)Class II
—Sized sweet peppers
10 % by number or weight of sweet peppers not conforming to
the sizes identified within a margin of ± 5 mm including no more
than 5 % of sweet peppers below the minimum size laid down.
—Unsized sweet peppers1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 5
(1) Miniature product means a variety or cultivar of sweet pepper, obtained by plant
breeding and/or special cultivation techniques, excluding sweet peppers of non-miniaturevarieties which have not fully developed or are of inadequate size. All other
requirements of the standard must be met.▼M1
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5 % by number or weight of sweet peppers up to 5 mm smaller
than the minimum size laid down.
V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only sweet
peppers of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality, size (if
sized) and, in the case of Class I, of appreciably the same degree of
ripeness and colouring.
However, a mixture of sweet peppers of different colours is allowed as
long as origin, commercial type, quality and size (if sized) are uniform
and there is the same number of sweet peppers of each colour.
For packages of sweet peppers with a maximum weight of 1 kg,
uniformity is only required with respect to origin and quality. Where
sweet peppers of different colours are marketed, uniformity of origin is
not required.
In the case of sized produce, elongated sweet peppers should be
sufficiently uniform in length.
Miniature sweet peppers must be reasonably uniform in size. They may
be mixed with other miniature products of a different type and origin.
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of
the entire contents.
B.Packaging
The sweet peppers must be packed in such a way as to protect the
produce properly.
The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a quality
such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce.
The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps bearing trade
specifications is allowed, provided the printing or labelling has been
done with non-toxicink or glue.
packages must be free of all foreign matter.
VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING
Each package must bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the
same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside:
A.Identification
Packer and/or dispatcher: Name and address or officially issued or
accepted symbol. However, where a code (symbol) is used, the mention
‘packer and/or dispatcher’ (or an equivalent abbreviation) must be placed
close to this code (symbol).
B.Natureofproduce
— ‘Sweet peppers’ and the colour or colours if the contents are not
visible from the outside.
— Commercial type (‘elongated’, ‘square blunt’, ‘square tapering’,
‘flat’) or name of the variety if the contents are not visible from the
outside.
C.Origin ofproduce
— Country or, where appropriate, countries of origin and, optionally,
district where grown or national, regional or local place name.1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 6
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D.Commercial specifications
— Class
— Size (if sized) expressed as minimum and maximum diameters or the
mark ‘unsized’ where appropriate
— Mini peppers, baby peppers, or other appropriate term for miniature
produce. Where several types of miniature produce are mixed in the
same package, all products and their respective origins must be
mentioned
— Net weight or number of units (optional).
E.Official controlmark(optional)1999R1455 — EN — 01.03.2001 — 001.001 — 7
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