1997R1093 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 004.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1093/97
of 16 June 1997
laying down marketing standards applicable to ►M2 ◄watermelons
(OJ L 158, 17.6.1997, p. 21)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 850/2000 of 27 April 2000 L 103 21 28.4.2000
►M2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1615/2001 of 7 August 2001 L 214 21 8.8.2001
►M3 Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2003 of 10 January 2003 L 7 61 11.1.2003
►M4 Commission Regulation (EC) No 907/2004 of 29 April 2004 L 163 50 30.4.2004
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COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1093/97
of 16 June 1997
laying down marketing standards applicable to
►M2 ◄watermelons
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 organization of the market in fruit and vegeta-
bles (1), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof,
Whereas Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, in Annex I, lists the products
for which standards must be adopted; whereas, of the products listedin that Annex, no Community standards have yet been laid down formelons and watermelons; whereas it is therefore necessary to laydown marketing standards for those products; whereas, to that end, forthe sake of transparency on the world market, account should be taken
of the standards recommended for those products by the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe;
Whereas application of those standards should have the effect of
keeping products of unsatisfactory quality off the market, directingproduction to meet consumers' requirements and facilitating trade underfair competitive conditions, thereby helping to improve the profitability
of production;
Whereas those standards are applicable to all marketing stages;
whereas transport over large distances, storage for more than a certainduration and the amount of handling to which products are subject canresult in some degree of deterioration owing to the biological develop-ment of the product or its perishable nature; whereas such deteriorationshould be taken into account in the application of the standards to the
marketing stages following consignment;
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 watermelons, falling within CN code
0807 11 00, shall be as set out in the Annex.
2. The standards shall apply to all marketing stages under the condi-
tions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.
However, at stages following consignment the following tolerances
shall be allowed:
(a) a slight loss of freshness and turgidity;
(b) for products other than the ‘Extra’ class, slight deterioration due to
biological development and perishability.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 July 1997.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.1997R1093 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 004.001 — 2
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ANNEX
STANDARDS FOR WATERMELONS
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to watermelons of varieties (cultivars) grown from
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai to be supplied fresh to the
consumer, watermelons for industrial processing being excluded.
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of watermelons
after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the toler-
ances allowed, the watermelons 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,
— practically free from pests,
— practically free from damage caused by pests,
— firm and sufficiently ripe; the colour and taste of the flesh should
conform to a sufficient state of ripeness,
— not split,
— free from abnormal external moisture,
— free from any foreign smell and/or taste.
The development and condition of the watermelons 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 watermelons are classified in two classes defined below:
(i) Class I
Watermelons in this class must be of good quality.
They must be:
— well-formed, allowing for the characteristics of the variety,
— free of cracks and bruises; slight superficial cracks are not consid-
ered as defects.
A slight defect in colouring is allowed for the paler part of the melon
which has been in contact with the ground during the period of growth.
The stem of the watermelon must not exceed 5 cm in length.
(ii) Class II
This class includes watermelons which do not qualify for inclusion in
Class I, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.
The following defects may be allowed provided the watermelons retain
their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality,
and presentation:
— slight defect in shape,
— slight defect in colouring of the rind,
— slight bruising or superficial defects due in particular to mechanical
impact or to damage by parasites or diseases.
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the weight per unit. The minimum weight is fixed at
1,5 kg.
When watermelons are presented in packages, the difference in weight between
the lightest and the heaviest unit in the same package should not exceed 2 kg, or
3,5 kg if the lightest unit exceeds 6 kg.1997R1093 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 004.001 — 3
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This relative uniformity of weight is not compulsory for watermelons presented
in bulk.
IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES
Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package, or in
each lot for produce presented in bulk, for produce not satisfying the require-
ments of the class indicated.
A.Quality tolerances
(i) Class I
10 % by number or weight of watermelons not satisfying the require-
ments 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 watermelons satisfying neither the require-
ments 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.Size tolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of watermelons not conforming to
the size indiated, but no more than 1 kg asbove or below the size range
specified.
The tolerance may in no case extend to fruit weighing less than 1 kg.
V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
The contents of each package, or lot for produce presented in bulk, must be
uniform and contain only watermelons of the same origin, variety and
quality.
The visible part of the contents of the package, or lot for produce presented
in bulk, must be representative of the entire contents.
In addition, in Class I, the shape and colour of the rind of the watermelons
must be uniform.
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 vegetables on the
conditions laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 48/2003 (1).
B.Packaging
The watermelons 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-toxic ink
or glue.
Packages, or lots for produce presented in bulk, must be free from all foreign
matter.
Watermelons transported in bulk must be separated from the floor and walls
of the vehicles by a suitable protective material, which must be new and
clean and not liable to transfer any abnormal taste or smell to the fruit.
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
The watermelons may be presented:
— in packages,
— in bulk.1997R1093 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 004.001 — 4
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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.
For watermelons transported in bulk (direct loading into a transport vehicle)
these particulars must appear on a document accompanying the goods, andattached in a visible position inside the transport vehicle.
For this type of presentation the indication of the size, the net weight or the
number of units is not compulsory.
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 label-
ling 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
— ‘Watermelons’, if the contents are not visible from the outside.
C.Origin of produce
— Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national,
regional or local place name.
D.Commercial specifications
— class,
— size (if sized) expressed in minimum and maximum weight,— net weight or number of units.
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.1997R1093 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 004.001 — 5
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