1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 963/98
of 7 May 1998
laying down marketing standards for cauliflowers ►M4 ◄
(OJ L 135, 8.5.1998, p. 18)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2551/1999 of 2 December 1999 L 308 26 3.12.1999
►M2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1135/2001 of 8 June 2001 L 154 9 9.6.2001
►M3 Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 of 10 January 2003 L 7 61 11.1.2003
►M4 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1466/2003 of 19 August 2003 L 210 6 20.8.2003
►M5 Commission Regulation (EC) No 907/2004 of 29 April 2004 L 163 50 30.4.2004
▼B
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 963/98
of 7 May 1998
laying down marketing standards for cauliflowers
►M4 ◄
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 amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2520/97 (2),
and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,
Whereas cauliflowers and artichokes are listed in Annex I to Regula-
tion (EC) No 2200/96 as products for which standards must beadopted; whereas Annex II/1 to Council Regulation No 23 of 4 April
1962 on the progressive establishment of a common organisation of
the market in fruit and vegetables (
3), as last amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No 888/97 (4), lays down common quality standards
for cauliflowers; whereas Annex I/6 to Commission RegulationNo 58 (
5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 888/97, laying
down common quality standards for certain products listed in Annex I
B to Regulation No 23 lays down standards for artichokes; whereas
those standards no longer reflect market requirements;
Whereas the rules concerned must therefore be redrafted and Regula-
tion No 23 and Annex I/6 to Regulation No 58 repealed, takingaccount, for the sake of transparency on the world market, of the stan-dards recommended for the products concerned by the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe;
Whereas the application of the standards should eliminate poor quality
products from the market, direct production to meet consumer require-ments and facilitate trade on the basis of fair competition, so helping toimprove profitability;
Whereas the standards are applicable at all marketing stages; whereas
long-distance transport storage for a certain period and the handling
which the products undergo may result in some deterioration owing tothe products' biological development and perishability; whereas accountmust be taken of such deterioration when the standards are applied atthe marketing stages following dispatch; whereas, since products in the
‘Extra’ class must be sorted and packed with special care, allowance
should be made only for some loss of freshness and turgidity;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accor-
dance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruitand Vegetables,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
1. The marketing standard for cauliflowers falling within CN code
0704 10 shall be as set out in the Annex.
2. The standards shall apply at all marketing stages in accordance
with the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 297, 21. 11. 1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 346, 17. 12. 1997, p. 41.
(3) OJ 30, 20. 4. 1962, p. 965/62.
(4) OJ L 126, 17. 5. 1997, p. 11.
(5) OJ 56, 7. 7. 1962, p. 1606/62.▼M4
▼B
▼B
At the stages following dispatch, however, the products may show,
compared with the standards:
— a slight loss of freshness and turgidity,
— slight deterioration in the case of products in classes other than
‘Extra’, owing to their development and perishability.
Article 2
Regulation No 23 is hereby repealed and Annex I/6 to Regulation
No 58 deleted.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 July 1998.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 3
▼M4
ANNEX
STANDARD FOR CAULIFLOWERS
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to cauliflowers of varieties (cultivars) grown from
Brassica oleracea L.convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. botrytis to be supplied
fresh to the consumer, cauliflowers for industrial processing being excluded.
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of cauli-
flowers after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, the heads must be:
— intact,
— sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make
it unfit for consumption is excluded,
— clean, practically free from any visible foreign matter,
— fresh in appearance,
— practically free from pests,— practically free from damage caused by pests,
— free from abnormal external moisture,
— free from any foreign smell and/or taste.
The development and condition of the cauliflowers 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 cauliflowers are classified in three classes defined below:(i) ‘Extra’ Class
Cauliflowers in this class must be of superior quality. They must be
characteristic of the shape, development and colouring of the
variety.
The heads must be:
— well formed, firm, compact,
— of very close texture,— uniformly white or slightly creamy in colour ►
M1 (1)◄,
— free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial
defects, provided these do not affect the general appearance of
the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in
the package.
In addition, if the cauliflowers are put on sale ‘with leaves’ or
‘trimmed’ the leaves must have a fresh appearance.
(ii) Class I
Cauliflowers in this class must be of good quality. They must be
characteristic of the variety.
The heads must be:
— firm,
— of close texture,
— white or ivory or creamy in colour (2),1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 4
(1) However, the marketing of cauliflower of another colour is allowed provided they are
characteristic of the chosen class and their colour is characteristic of the variety.
(2) However, the marketing of cauliflowers with a definite violet/purple or green colour is
allowed provided they are characteristic of the chosen class.▼B
▼B
— free from defects, such as blemishes, protruding leaves in the
head, traces of frost, bruising.
Heads may have the following slight defects, provided that these do
not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the
keeping quality and presentation in the package:
— a slight defect in shape or development,
— a slight defect in colouring,
— and a very slight woolliness.
In addition, if the cauliflowers are put on sale ‘with leaves’ or
‘trimmed’, the leaves must have a fresh appearance.
(iii) Class II
This class includes cauliflowers which do not qualify for inclusion
in the higher classes, but satisfy the minimum requirements speci-
fied above.
The heads may be:
— slightly deformed,
— slightly loose in texture,
— yellowish in colour (1).
They may have:
— slight traces of sun scorching,
— not more than five pale green leaves,— a slight woolliness (but not wet or greasy to the touch).
They may also have two for the following defects provided the
heads retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality,
the keeping quality and presentation:
— slight traces of damage by pests or disease,
— slight superficial damage due to frost,— slight bruising.
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section. The
minimum diameter is fixed at 11 cm; the difference in size between the
smallest and the largest head in each package may not exceed 4 cm.
The size requirements shall not apply to miniature produce (
2).
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
Five per cent by number of cauliflowers 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
Ten per cent by number of cauliflowers 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
Ten per cent by number of cauliflowers satisfying neither the
requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, with the
exception of produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration
rending it unfit for consumption.1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 5
(1) However, the marketing of cauliflowers with a definite violet/purple or green colour is
allowed provided they are characteristic of the chosen class.
(2) Miniature produce means a variety or cultivar of aubergine, obtained by plant breeding
and/or special cultivation techniques, excluding aubergines of non-miniature varietieswhich have not fully developed or are of inadequate size. All other requirements of
the standards must be met.▼M2
▼B
▼B
B.Size tolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number of cauliflowers not satisfying the
requirements as regards sizing and the size indicated but conforming to
the size immediately below and/or that stated on the package, the
minimum diameter for heads in the smallest size grade being 10 cm.
V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only cauli-
flowers of the same origin, commercial type, quality and size. In
addition, each package of ‘Extra’ Class cauliflowers must also be
uniformly made up as to colour.
Miniature cauliflowers 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.
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
Cauliflowers must be packed in such a way so 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 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.
Stickers individually affixed on product shall be such as, when removed,
neither to leave visible traces of glue, nor to lead to skin defects.
C.Presentation
Cauliflowers may be presented:
(i) with leaves: cauliflowers covered with healthy green leaves, suffi-
cient in number and long enough to cover and protect the head
entirely. The stalk must be cut off slightly below the protecting
leaves;
(ii) without leaves: cauliflowers with all the leaves and the non-edible
portion of the stalk removed. At most, there may be five small and
tender pale green leaves, untrimmed, close to the head;
(iii) trimmed: cauliflowers with a sufficient number of leaves left on to
protect the head. These leaves must be healthy and green and
trimmed to not more than 3 cm from the top of the head. The
stem must be cut off slightly below the protecting leaves.
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
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 the1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 6
(1) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 65.▼M2
▼B
▼M3
▼B
▼M5
▼B
▼M5
▼M5
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 neces-
sary by the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.
B.Nature of produce
— ‘Cauliflowers’, if the contents are not visible from the outside
— Name of the commercial type or variety for cauliflower of another
colour mentioned by footnote (1) in title II, part B
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 in minimum and maximum diameters or number of
units
— ‘Mini cauliflowers’, ‘baby cauliflowers’ or other appropriate term
for miniature produce, where appropriate. Where several types of
miniature produce are mixed in the same package, all products and
their respective origins must be mentioned
E.Official control mark (optional)
Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the first subpara-
graph, 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.1998R0963 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 005.001 — 7
▼B
▼M1
▼B
▼M2
▼B
▼M5
▼M4