2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No2396/2001
of7December 2001
layingdownthemarketingstandardapplicabletoleeks
(OJ L 325, 8.12.2001, p. 11)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 of 10 January 2003 L 7 61 11.1.2003
▼B
COMMISSIONREGULATION(EC)No2396/2001
of7December 2001
layingdownthemarketingstandardapplicabletoleeks
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 vegeta-bles (
1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 911/
2001 (2), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)In accordance withAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96,
standards for leeks have been adopted by Commission Regula-tion (EEC) No 1076/89 (
3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No
888/97 (4).
(2)In the interest of preserving transparency on the world market,
account should be taken of the standard for leeks recommendedby the working party on standardisation of perishable produceand quality development of the United Nations EconomicCommission for Europe (UN/ECE). In addition, it is desirableto allow higher tolerances for Class I early leeks. It is therefore
necessary to delete Regulation (EEC) No 1076/89 and to replace
it by a new Regulation laying down standards taking these factsinto account.
(3)Application of these standards should remove products of unsa-tisfactory quality from the market, bring production into linewithconsumer requirements and facilitate trade based on faircompetition, thereby helping to improve profitability.
(4)The standards are applicable at all marketing stages. Long-
distances transport, storage over a certain period and the various
processes the products undergo may cause some degree of dete-rioration owing to the biological development of the products ortheir perishable nature. Account should be taken of such dete-rioration when applying the standard at the marketing stages
following dispatch.
(5)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance
with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruitand Vegetables,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The marketing standard for leeks falling within CN code 0703 90 00
shall be as set out in the Annex.
The standard shall apply at all marketing stages under the conditions
laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.
However, at stages following dispatch, products may show in relation
to the requirements of the standard slight lack of freshness andturgidity, as well as slight deterioration due to their development andtheir perishable nature.
Article 2
Regulation (EEC) No 1076/89 is repealed.2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 129, 11.5.2001, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 114, 27.4.1989, p. 14.
(4) OJ L 126, 17.5.1997, p. 11.
▼B
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that
of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
It shall apply from 1 March 2002.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
ANNEX
STANDARDFORLEEKS
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to leeks of varieties (cultivars) grown from Allium
porrum L . to be supplied freshto th e consumer, leeks for industrial proces-
sing being excluded.
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for leeks,
after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimumrequirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, the leeks must be:
— intact (this requirement does not apply, however, to roots and ends
of leaves which may be cut),
— sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration suchas to make
it unfit for consumption is excluded,
— clean, practically free from any visible foreign matter; however, the
roots may have soil adhering to them,
— freshin appearance, withwilted or with ered leaves removed,— practically free from pests,— practically free from damage caused by pests,— not running to seed,— free of abnormal external moisture, i.e. adequately ‘dried’ if they
have been washed,
— free of any foreign smell and/or taste.
When the leaves are cut, they must be neatly cut.The development and condition of the leeks 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
Leeks are classified in two classes defined below:
(i)Class I
Leeks in this class must be of good quality. They must be character-
istic of the variety or commercial type.
The white to greenish white part of the leeks must represent at least
one-third of the total length or half of the sheathed part. However in
early leeks (
1), the white to greenish white part must represent at
least one-quarter of the total length or one-third of the sheathed
part.
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 presentation in the package:
— slight superficial defects,
— slight damage caused by thrips on the leaves, but not elsewhere,— slight traces of soil within the shaft.
(ii)Class II
This class includes leeks which do not qualify for inclusion in Class
I, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.
The white to greenish white part of the leeks must represent at least
one-quarter of the total length or one-third of the sheathed part.2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 4
(1) Direct-drilled, non transplanted leeks, harvested from late winter to early summer.
▼B
The following defects may be allowed provided the leeks retain
their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping
quality and presentation:
— a tender flowering stem, provided that it is enclosed within the
sheathed part,
— slight bruising, damage caused by thrips and slight traces of rust
on the leaves, but not elsewhere,
— slight defects in colouring,— traces of soil within the shaft.
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the diameter measured at right angels to the longitu-
dinal axis above the swelling of the neck.
The minimum diameter is fixed at 8 mm for early leeks and 10 mm for
other leeks.
For Class I, the diameter of the largest leek in the same bundle or package
must not be more than twice the diameter of the smallest leek.
IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES
Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package,
or eachbundle for leeks presented with out package, for produce not satis-
fying the requirements of the class indicated.
A.Qualitytolerances
(i)Class I
For early leeks, 10 % by number of weight of leeks showing a
tender flowering stem enclosed within the sheathed part and 10 %
of leeks not satisfying the requirements of the class for other
reasons, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming
within the tolerances of that class.
For other leeks, 10 % by number or weight of leeks 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 leeks satisfying neither the require-
ments of the class, nor the minimum requirements, with the
exception of produce affected by rotting, marked bruising or any
other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.
B.Sizetolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of leeks not satisfying the
minimum diameter requirement and, in the case of Class I leeks, the
uniformity requirement.
V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
Th e contents of eachpackage, or eachbundle in th e same package, must
be uniform and contain only leeks of the same origin, variety or
commercial type, quality and size (where for this criterion uniformity
is prescribed), and appreciably the same degree of development and
colouring.
The visible part of the contents of the package or bundle must be repre-
sentative of the entire contents.2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 5
▼M1
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions in this point, products covered
by this Regulation may be mixed, in sales packages of a net weight of
less than three kilograms, with different types of fresh fruit and vegeta-
bles on the conditions laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No
48/2003 (1).
B.Packaging
The leeks must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce prop-
erly.
The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a
quality suchas to avoid causing any external or internal damage to th e
produce. The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps, bearing
trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has
been done withnon-toxic ink or glue.
The packages or bundles for produce presented without package, must
be free from all foreign matter.
C.Presentation
The leeks may be presented as follows:
— arranged evenly in the package,
— in bundles, whether or not in a package.
The bundles in each package should be practically uniform.
VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING
Eachpackage or eachbundle presented in bulk, must bear th e following
particulars in letters grouped on the same side, only for produce presented
in a package, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible form the outside.
A.Identification
Packer and/or dispatcher: name and address or officially issued or
accepted code mark. However, in the case where a code is used, the
reference ‘Packer and/or dispatcher (or equivalent abbreviations)’ must
be indicated in close proximity to the code mark.
B.Natureofproduce
— ‘Leeks’, if the contents are not visible from the outside,
— ‘Early leeks’, where appropriate.
C.Origin ofproduce
— Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national,
regional or local place name.
D.Commercial specifications
— Class,
— Number of bundles (for leeks packed in bundles and presented in a
package).
E.Official controlmark(optional)
For leeks shipped in bulk and loaded directly onto a means of transport
the particulars referred to in paragraph VI shall be given in a document
accompanying the goods or shown on a notice placed in an obvious
position inside the means of transport.2001R2396 — EN — 31.01.2003 — 001.001 — 6
(1) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 65.▼B