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"B COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 790/2000
of 14 April 2000
laying down the marketing standard for tomatoes
(OJ L 95, 15.4.2000, p. 24)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 717/2001 of 10 April 2001 L 100 11 11.4.20012000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 1
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 790/2000
of 14 April 2000
laying down the marketing standard for tomatoes
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,
Whereas:
(1) Tomatoes are among the products listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC)
No 2200/96 for which standards must be adopted. Commission
Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 laying down quality standards fortomatoes (
3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2522/97 (4), has
been amended frequently and can no longer ensure legal clarity.
(2) The rules should therefore be recast, and Regulation (EEC) No 778/83
should be repealed. To that end and in the interests of preserving
transparency on the world market, account should be taken of thestandard for tomatoes recommended by the UN/ECE Working Party on
perishable product standardisation and quality.
(3) It should also be specified that cherry tomatoes (including cocktail
tomatoes) form a fourth commercial type separate from the threeformerly identified (round tomatoes, ribbed tomatoes and oblongtomatoes). The different acceptable forms of commercial presentation
specific to tomatoes should as well be detailed. Furthermore, the
evolution of the market in fresh tomatoes depends on the organolepticquality of this product which, particularly at the retailing stage, mayvary widely. The trade should therefore be allowed to indicate on the
packaging minimum or maximum values for essential maturity criteria
to allow consumers freedom of choice in purchasing fruit of theorganoleptic quality they require.
(4) Applying these standards should result in products of unsatisfactory
quality being removed from the market, bringing production into line
with consumer requirements and facilitating trade relationships based
on fair competition, thereby helping improve the profitability ofproduction.
(5) The standards are applicable at all stages of marketing. Transportation
over long distances, storage for a certain length of time or handling
operations may bring about deterioration due to the biological
development of the products or their tendency to perish. Accountshould be taken of such deterioration when applying the standards at
the marketing stages which follow dispatch. Since products in the
‘Extra’ class must be sorted and packaged with particular care, onlylack of freshness and turgescence is to be taken into account in theircase.
(6) 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 marketing standard for tomatoes falling within CN code 0702 00 00 shall
be as set out in the Annex.
This standard shall apply at all marketing stages, under the conditions laid
down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.!B
(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.
(3) OJ L 86, 31.3.1983, p. 14.
(4) OJ L 346, 17.12.1997, p. 44.2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 2
However, at stages following dispatch, the products may show in relation to
the provisions of the standard:
— a slight lack of freshness and turgescence,
— for products graded in classes other than the ‘Extra’ class, slight
deterioration due to their development and their tendency to perish.
Article 2
Regulation (EEC) No 778/83 is hereby repealed.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
It shall apply from the first day of the third month following its entry into
force.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all
Member States.!B2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 3
ANNEX
STANDARD FOR TOMATOES
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to tomatoes of the varieties (cultivars) grown from
Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw./Lycopersicon esculentum
Mill. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, tomatoes for industrial processing
being excluded.
Tomatoes may be classified in four commercial types:— ‘round’,— ‘ribbed’,— ‘oblong’ or ‘elongated’,
— ‘cherry’ tomatoes (including ‘cocktail’ tomatoes).
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of tomatoes
after preparation and packaging.
A. Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, tomatoes 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,— free of abnormal external moisture,
— free of any foreign smell and/or taste.
In the case of trusses of tomatoes, the stalks must be fresh, healthly,
clean, and free from all leaves and any visible foreign matter.
The development and condition of the tomatoes must be such as to
enable them:
— to withstand transport and handling, and— to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.
B. Classification
Tomatoes are classified in three classes as defined below:
(i) ‘Extra’ Class
Tomatoes in this class must be of superior quality. They must have
firm flesh and must be characteristic of the variety as regards
shape, appearance and development.
Their colouring, according to their state of ripeness, must be such
as to satisfy the requirements set out in the last subparagraph ofparagraph A above.
They must be free from greenbacks and other defects, with the
exception of very slight superficial defects, provided these do notaffect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the
keeping quality and presentation in the package.
(ii) Class I
Tomatoes in this class must be of good quality. They must be
reasonably firm and characteristic of the variety.!
B2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 4
They must be free of cracks and visible greenbacks. The following
slight defects, however, may be allowed, provided these do notaffect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, thekeeping quality and presentation in the package:
— a slight defect in shape and development,
— a slight defect in colouring,
— slight skin defects,— very slight bruises.
Furthermore, ‘ribbed’ tomatoes may show:
— healed cracks not more than 1 cm long,— no excessive protuberances,— a small umbilicus, but no suberisation,
— suberisation of the stigma up to 1 cm
2,
— fine blossom scar in elongated form (like a seam), but not
longer than two thirds of the greatest diameter of the fruit.
(iii) Class II
This class includes tomatoes which do not qualify for inclusion in
the higher classes, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified
above.
They must be reasonably firm (but may be slightly less firm than
in Class I) and must not show unhealed cracks.
The following defects may be allowed, provided the tomatoes
retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, thekeeping quality and presentation:
— defects in shape, development and colouring,
— skin defects or bruises, provided the fruit is not seriously
affected,
— healed cracks not more than 3 cm in length for round, ribbed
or oblong tomatoes.
Furthermore, ‘ribbed’ tomatoes may show:
— more pronounced protuberances than allowed in Class I, but
without being misshapen,
— an umbilicus,
— suberisation of the stigma up to 2 cm
2,
— fine blossom scar in elongated form (like a seam).
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section. The
following provisions shall not apply to ‘cherry’ tomatoes.
A. Minimum size
For tomatoes classified in the ‘Extra’ Class and Classes I and II, the
minimum size is set at:
— 35 mm for ‘round’ and ‘ribbed’ tomatoes,— 30 mm for ‘oblong’ tomatoes.
B. Sizing scale
The tomatoes are graded according to the following sizing scale:
— 30 mm and over but under 35 mm (
1),
— 35 mm and over but under 40 mm,!B
(1) Only for ‘oblong’ tomatoes.!M1
!B2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 5
— 40 mm and over but under 47 mm,
— 47 mm and over but under 57 mm,
— 57 mm and over but under 67 mm,— 67 mm and over but under 82 mm,
— 82 mm and over but under 102 mm,
— 102 mm and over.Observance of the sizing scale is compulsory for ‘Extra’ Class and
Class I tomatoes.
The sizing scale does not apply to trusses of tomatoes.
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. Quality tolerances
(i) ‘Extra’ Class
— 5 % by number or weight of tomatoes not satisfying the
requirements of the class but meeting those of Class I or,exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.
(ii) Class I
— 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes not satisfying the
requirements of the class but meeting those of Class II or,
exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.
— In the class of trusses of tomatoes, 5 % by number or weight
of tomatoes detached from the stalk.
(iii) Class II
— 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes satisfying neither the
requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, withthe exception of produce affected by rotting, marked bruisingor any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.
— In the case of trusses of tomatoes, 10 % by number or weight
of tomatoes detached from the stalk.
B. Size tolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes conforming to
the size immediately above or below that specified, with a minimum of33 mm for ‘round’ and ‘ribbed’ tomatoes and 28 mm for ‘oblong’tomatoes.
V . PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A. Uniformity
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only
tomatoes of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality andsize (if sized).
The ripeness and colouring of tomatoes in the ‘Extra’ Class and Class I
must be practically uniform. In addition, the length of ‘oblong’tomatoes must be sufficiently uniform.
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of
the entire contents.
B. Packaging
The tomatoes 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!
B2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 6
trade specifications is allowed, provided the printing or labelling has
been done with non-toxic ink or glue.
Packages must be free of all foreign matter.
C. Presentation
Tomatoes may be presented as follows:
(i) as individual fruits, with or without calyx and short stalk;
(ii) as trusses of tomatoes, i.e. the tomatoes are presented as whole
inflorescence or part thereof, each inflorescence or part thereof
comprising at least the following number of fruits:
— three fruits (two fruits in prepackaging), or
— in the case of trusses of ‘cherry’ tomatoes, six fruits (four
fruits in prepackaging).
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 code mark. However, where a code mark is used, the words
‘packer and/or dispatcher (or an equivalent abbreviation)’ must beindicated in proximity to the code mark.
B. Nature of produce
— ‘tomatoes’ or ‘trusses of tomatoes’ and the commercial type if the
contents are not visible from the outside. These details must alwaysbe provided for ‘cherry’ (or ‘cocktail’) tomatoes, whether or not intrusses,
— name of the variety (optional).
C. Origin of produce
— country of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national,
regional or local place name.
D. Commercial specifications
— class
— size expressed as minimum and maximum diameters (if sized) or
the word ‘unsized’ where appropriate.
— minimum sugar content, measured by refractometer and expressed
in Brix degrees (optional).
E. Official control mark (optional)!
B2000R0790 — EN — 01.07.2001 — 001.001 — 7