2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 982/2002
of 7 June 2002
laying down the marketing standards for cultivated mushrooms
(OJ L 150, 8.6.2002, p. 45)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 of 10 January 2003 L 7 61 11.1.2003
►M2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 907/2004 of 29 April 2004 L 163 50 30.4.2004
▼B
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 982/2002
of 7 June 2002
laying down the marketing standards for cultivated mushrooms
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 Regulation (EC) No 545/2002 (2), and in
particular Article 2(2),
Whereas:
(1) Cultivated mushrooms are among the products listed in Annex I
to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 for which standards must be
adopted. To that end, and in the interest of preserving transpar-
ency on the world market, account should be taken of thestandard for cultivated mushrooms recommended by theWorking Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce andQuality Development of the United Nations Economic Commis-
sion for Europe (UNECE).
(2) Application of these standards should remove products of unsa-
tisfactory quality from the market, bring production into linewith consumer requirements and facilitate trade based on fair
competition, thereby helping to improve profitability.
(3) The standards are applicable at all marketing stages. Long-
distance 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 stagesfollowing dispatch.
(4) As products in the ‘Extra’ class have to be particularly carefullysorted and packaged, only lack of freshness and turgidity is to betaken into account in their case.
(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordancewith the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruitand Vegetables,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The marketing standard for cultivated mushrooms of genus Agaricus
falling within CN code 0709 51 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, a slight lack of freshness andturgidity; products graded in classes other than the ‘Extra’ class mayshow in addition slight deteriorations due to their development andtheir tendency to perish.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following
that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Commu-
nities .
It shall apply from 1 January 2003.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.2002, p. 1.
▼B
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 3
▼B
ANNEX
STANDARD FOR CULTIVATED MUSHROOMS ( AGARICUS )
1. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to the carpophores (fruiting bodies) of strains grown
from the genus Agaricus (syn. Psalliota ), to be supplied fresh to the
consumer, mushrooms for industrial processing being excluded.
Mushrooms are classified into the following commercial types, whereas these
first of all are classified into two groups:
— uncut mushrooms, which have the lower part of the stalk uncut,
— cut mushrooms, which have the lower part of the stalk cut. The cut must
be clean and approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
in both groups a distinction is made between successive stages of develop-
ment:
— closed mushrooms (or equivalent denomination), i.e. mushrooms with the
cap completely closed,
— veiled mushrooms, i.e. mushrooms, the cap of which is connected to the
stalk by the veil,
— open mushrooms, i.e. mushrooms with an open cap (open cap or flat; a
slight downturn of the edges of the cap is required),
— flat mushrooms, i.e. mushrooms which are fully open (but the edges of
the cap are neither too cupped nor inverted);
mushrooms are further classified into two colour groups:
— ‘white’
— ‘brown’ or ‘chestnut’.
2. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of mush-
rooms after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, the mushrooms must be:
— intact; cut mushrooms complying with the definition are regarded as
intact,
— sound, produce affected by rotting, severe browning in the stalk or
deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,
— clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter, other than casing
material,
— fresh in appearance, account should be taken of the typical gill colour
of the strain and/or commercial type,
— practically free from pests,— practically free from damage caused by pests,— free of abnormal external moisture,
— free of any foreign smell and/or taste;
the development and condition of the mushrooms 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
The mushrooms are classified in three classes defined below:
(i) ‘Extra’ Class
Mushrooms in this class must be of superior quality. In shape,
appearance, development and colouring they must be characteristic
of the commercial type. They must be well formed.
They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight
superficial defects provided these do not affect the general appear-
ance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and
presentation in the package.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 4
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The mushrooms must be practically free of casing material; uncut
mushrooms may also have traces of casing material on the foot.
(ii) Class I
Mushrooms in this class must be of good quality. In shape, appear-
ance, development and colouring they must be characteristic of the
commercial type.
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 defect in shape,
— slight defect in colouring,
— slight superficial blemishes provided they are not progressive,
— slight superficial bruising,
— slight traces of casing material; uncut mushrooms may also have
some casing material on the foot.
(iii) Class II
This class includes mushrooms which do not qualify for inclusion in
the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified
above.
The following defects may be allowed provided the mushrooms
retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the
keeping quality and presentation:
— defect in shape,
— defect in colouring,
— slight blemishes,
— slight bruising,
— hollow stalks,
— traces of casing material; uncut mushrooms may also have some
casing material on the foot.
3. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the cap and the length of the
stalk, according to the following specifications.
Minimum size
The minimum cap diameter must be at least 15 mm for closed cap, veiled
and open mushrooms and 20 mm for flat mushrooms.
Length of stalk
The length of the stalk is measured:
— from the gills under the cap for open and flat mushrooms,
— from the veil for closed and veiled mushrooms.
Sizing is compulsory for mushrooms in ‘Extra’ Class according to following
table, mushrooms of Classes I and II having to meet the specified size ranges
if the terms ‘small’, ‘medium’ or ‘large’ are indicated:
Closed, veiled and open mushrooms
Diameter of cap Maximum length of stalk
Size Size limits Cut mushrooms Uncut mushrooms
Small 15-45 mm
1/2 of cap
diameter2/3 of cap
diameterMedium 30-65 mm
Large 50 mm and
over2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 5
▼B
Flat mushrooms
Diameter of cap Maximum length of stalk
Size Size limits Cut mushrooms Uncut mushrooms
Small 20-55 mm
2/3 of cap diameterLarge 50 mm and
over
4. 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 mushrooms not satisfying the require-
ments 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 mushrooms not satisfying the require-
ments of the class, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally,
coming within the tolerances of that class.
(iii) Class II
10 % by number or weight of mushrooms with their stalk missing
and 10 % by number or weight of mushrooms satisfying neither the
requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, for other
reasons, with the exception of produce affected by rotting or any
other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.
B.Special tolerances for the stage of development
(i) ‘Extra’ Class
5 % in total by number or weight of mushrooms of the previous
stage of development and of mushrooms of the next stage of devel-
opment are allowed.
(ii) Class I
10 % in total by number or weight of mushrooms of the previous
stage of development and of mushrooms of the next stage of devel-
opment are allowed.
(iii) Class II
Mushrooms of different stages of development can be mixed in each
package. However, when the stage of development is indicated, a
maximum of 25 % in total by number or weight of mushrooms of
the previous stage of development and of mushrooms of the next
stage of development are allowed.
C.Size tolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of mushrooms not conforming
to the sizes indicated.
5. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only mush-
rooms of the same origin, commercial type, stage of development
(subject to provisions under IV(B) above), quality, and size (if sized).
Sales packages of a net weight not exceeding 1 kilo may contain mixtures
of mushrooms of different colours, provided they are uniform in quality,
stage of development and size (if sized) and, for each colour concerned,
in origin.
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of
the entire contents.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 6
▼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 mushrooms 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 changes to the
produce. 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.
Packages must be free of all foreign matter including excessive casing
material.
Stickers individually affixed on product shall be such as, when removed,
neither to leave visible traces of glue, nor to lead to skin defects.
6. 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
The name and the address of the packer and/or the dispatcherThis mention may be replaced:
— for all packages with the exception of pre-packages, by the officially
issued or accepted code mark representing the packer and/or the
dispatcher, indicated in close connection with the reference ‘Packer
and/or Dispatcher’ (or equivalent abbreviations);
— for pre-packages only, by the name and the address of a seller estab-
lished within the Community indicated in close connection with the
mention ‘Packed for:’ or an equivalent mention. In this case, the
labelling shall also include a code representing the packer and/or the
dispatcher. The seller shall give all information deemed necessary by
the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.
B.Nature of produce
— If the contents are not visible from the outside:
— cultivated mushrooms,
— ‘cut’ or ‘uncut’,— colour if not ‘white’;
— Stage of development (optional),
— In the case of sales packages containing a mixture of mushrooms of
different colours, names of the different colours.
C.Origin of produce
— Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national,
regional or local place name,
— In the case of sales packages containing a mixture of mushrooms of
different colours of different origins, the indication of each country of
origin shall appear close to the name of the colours concerned.
D.Commercial specifications
— Class,
— Sized (if sized) expressed as minimum and maximum cap diameters
or by the term ‘small’, ‘medium’ or ‘large’,
— Net weight.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 7
(1) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 65.▼B
▼M2
▼B
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▼B
▼B
E.Official control mark (optional)
Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the first subparagraph,
when they contain sales packages, clearly visible from the outside, and all
bearing these particulars. These packages shall be free from any indications
such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised, the particulars
shall be given on a notice placed in an obvious position on at least two sides
of the pallet.2002R0982 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 8
▼M2