1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2377/1999
of 9 November 1999
laying down the marketing standard for asparagus
(OJ L 287, 10.11.1999, p. 6)
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 2377/1999
of 9 November 1999
laying down the marketing standard for asparagus
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 1257/1999 (2), and in
particular Article 2(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) asparagus are among the products listed in Annex I to Regula-
tion (EC) No 2200/96 for which standards must be adopted.
Commission Regulation (EEC) No 454/92 of 26 February 1992laying down quality standards for asparagus (
3), as amended by
Regulation (EC) No 888/97 (4), shall be amended on several
points. In order to ensure legal clarity, Regulation (EEC) No
454/92 should be abrogated and the rules in question should be
recast. To that end and in the interests of preserving transparencyon the world market, account should be taken of the standard forasparagus recommended by the Working Party on Standardisa-tion of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of theUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE);
(2) the system for sizing asparagus should be simplified to make itcompatible with developments in production and marketingconditions, especially as regards wholesale and consumerrequirements. This simplification involves removing the provi-sions fixing a maximum length for asparagus, relaxing theconditions on diameter in the size table for asparagus and redu-
cing the minimum diameter of green and violet/green asparagus
to 3 mm. These amendments will enable thin green asparagusand ‘triguero’ asparagus to be marketed under the same condi-tions as all other asparagus;
(3) the result of applying these standards should be to removeproducts of unsatisfactory quality from the market, to bring
production into line with consumer requirements, to facilitate
trade relationships based on fair competition, and thereby tohelp make production more profitable;
(4) the standards are applicable at all stages of marketing. Carriageover a great distance, storage for a certain length of time and the
various handling operations which the products undergo may
bring about deterioration due to the biological development ofthe products or their perishability. Account should be taken ofsuch deterioration when the standards are applied at marketingstages following dispatch. As products in the ‘Extra’ class haveto be particularly carefully sorted and packaged, only lack of
freshness and turgidity is to be taken into account in their case;
(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 asparagus falling within CN code
0709 20 00 shall be as set out in the Annex.1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.
(3) OJ L 52, 27.2.1992, p. 29.
(4) OJ L 126, 17.5.1997, p. 11.
▼B
This standard shall apply at all marketing stages, under the conditions
laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.
However, at stages following dispatch, the products may show in rela-
tion to the provisions of the standard:
— a slight lack of freshness and turgidity,
— for products graded in classes other than the ‘Extra’ class, slight
deteriorations due to their development and their tendency to perish.
Article 2
Regulation (EEC) No 454/92 is hereby repealed.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
It shall apply from 1 January 2000.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States.1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 3
▼B
ANNEX
STANDARD FOR ASPARAGUS
I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE
This standard applies to shoots of the varieties (cultivars) grown from
Asparagus officinalis L., to be supplied fresh to the consumer, asparagus
for industrial processing being excluded.
Asparagus shoots are classified into four groups according to colour:
1. white asparagus;
2. violet asparagus, having tips of a colour between pink and violet or
purple and a part of the shoot white;
3. violet/green asparagus, part of which is of violet and green colouring;4. green asparagus having tips and most of the shoot green.
This standard does not apply to green and violet/green asparagus of less
than 3 mm diameter and white and violet asparagus of less than 8 mm
diameter, packed in uniform bundles or unit packages.
II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of this standard is to define the quality requirements for aspar-
agus after preparation and packaging.
A.Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the
tolerances allowed, the shoots must be:
— intact,
— sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make
it unfit for consumption is excluded,
— free from damage caused by unsuitable washing (the shoots may
have been washed but not soaked),
— clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter,
— fresh in appearance and fresh-smelling,
— practically free from pests,— practically free from damage caused by pests,
— practically unbruised,
— free of abnormal external moisture, i.e. adequately ‘dried’ if they
have been washed or cooled with cold water,
— free of any foreign smell and/or taste.
The cut at the base of the shoots must be as clean as possible.
In addition, shoots must be neither hollow, split, peeled nor broken.
Small cracks which have appeared after harvesting are, however,
allowed, so long as they do not exceed the limits laid down in IV A.
‘Quality tolerances’.
The condition of the asparagus 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
Asparagus is graded into three classes defined below:
(i) ‘Extra’ class
Shoots in this class must be of superior quality, very well formed
and practically straight. Having regard to the normal characteristics
of the group to which they belong, their tips must be very compact.
Only a few very slight traces of rust on the shoot, removable by
normal peeling by the consumer, are allowed.1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 4
▼B
For the ‘white’ asparagus group, the tips and shoots must be white;
only a faint pink tint is allowed on the shoots.
Green asparagus must be totally green.No traces of woodiness are allowed for the shoots in this class.
The cut at the base of the shoots must be as square as possible.
However, to improve presentation when the asparagus is packed in
bundles, those on the outside may be slightly bevelled, so long as
the bevelling does not exceed 1 cm.
(ii) Class I
Shoots in this class must be of good quality and well formed. They
may be slightly curved. Having regard to the normal characteristics
of the group to which they belong, their tips must be compact.
Slight traces of rust removable by normal peeling by the consumer
are allowed.
For the ‘white’ asparagus group, a faint pink tint may appear on the
tips and the shoots.
Green asparagus must at least be green for 80 % of the length.In the ‘white’ asparagus group, no woody shoots are allowed. For
the other groups, a trace of woodiness on the lower part is permis-
sible, provided this woodiness disappears by normal peeling by the
consumer.
The cut at the base of the shoots must be as square as possible.
(iii) Class II
This class includes shoots which do not qualify for inclusion in the
higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified
above.
Compared with class I, shoots may be less well formed, more
curved and having regard to the normal characteristics of the group
to which they belong, their tips may be slightly open.
Traces of rust, removable by normal peeling by the consumer are
allowed.
The tips of ‘white’ asparagus may have a coloration including a
green tint.
The tips of ‘violet’ asparagus may have a slight green tint.Green asparagus must at least be green for 60 % of the length.Shoots may be slightly woody.The cut at the base of the shoots may be slightly oblique.
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING
Size is determined by the length and diameter of the shoot.
A.Sizing by length
The length of the shoots must be:
— above 17 cm for long asparagus,
— 12 to 17 cm for short asparagus,— above 12 cm for class II asparagus arranged, but not bundled in the
packages,
— under 12 cm for asparagus tips.
The maximum length allowed for white and violet asparagus is 22 cm,
and for green and violet/green asparagus 27 cm.
The maximum difference in length of shoots packed in firmly bound
bundles must not exceed 5 cm.
B.Sizing by diameter
The diameter of shoots shall be measured at the mid-point of their
length.
The minimum diameter and sizing shall be:
White and violet asparagus
Class Minimum diameter Sizing
Extra 12 mm Maximum variation of 8 mm between the thin-
nest and the thickest shoot in the same package
or the same bundle1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 5
▼B
Class Minimum diameter Sizing
I 10 mm Maximum variation of 10 mm between the thin-
nest and the thickest shoot in the same package
or the same bundle
II 8 mm No provision as to uniformity
Violet/green and green asparagus
Class Minimum diameter Sizing
Extra and I 3 mm Maximum variation of 8 mm between the thin-
nest and the thickest shoot in the same package
or the same bundle
II 3 mm No provision as to uniformity
IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES
The following tolerances in respect of quality and size are allowed for
produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated in each
package.
A.Quality tolerances
(i) ‘Extra’ class
5 % by number or weight of shoots not satisfying the requirements
for the class, but conforming to those of class I, or exceptionally,
coming within the tolerances for that class, or having slight
unscarred cracks appearing after harvesting.
(ii) Class I
10 % by number or weight of shoots not satisfying the require-
ments for the class, but conforming to those of class II, or
exceptionally, coming within the tolerances for that class, or having
slight unscarred cracks appearing after harvesting.
(iii) Class II
10 % by number or weight of shoots satisfying neither the require-
ments for the class, nor the minimum requirements, but excluding
shoots affected by rotting, or any other deterioration rendering
them unfit for consumption. In addition to the above 10 %, an addi-
tional tolerance of 10 % by number or weight can be allowed for
hollow shoots or shoots showing very slight cracks due to washing.
In no case can there be more than 15 % hollow shoots in each
package or bundle.
B.Size tolerances
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of shoots not corresponding
to the size indicated and deviating from the specified limits of length
with a maximum deviation of 1 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter.
V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION
A.Uniformity
The contents of each package, each unit package or each bundle in the
same package should be uniform, and comprise only asparagus of the
same origin, quality, colour group and size (where sizing is compul-
sory).
Nevertheless, with respect to colour, shoots of a different colour group
may be allowed within the following limits:
— white asparagus: 10 % by number of weight of violet asparagus in
class ‘Extra’ and ‘I’ and 15 % in class II,
— violet, green and violet/green asparagus: 10 % by number or weight
of another colour group.
In the case of class II, a mixture of white and violet asparagus is
allowed provided it is appropriately marked.1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 6
▼B
The visible part of the contents of each package, unit package or bundle
must be representative of the entire contents.1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 7
▼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.Presentation
The asparagus may be presented in the following ways:
(i) in bundles firmly bound
Shoots on the outside of each bundle must correspond in appearance
and diameter with the average of the whole bundle.
In ‘Extra’ Class, asparagus shoots packed in bundles must be of the
same length.
Bundles must be arranged evenly in the package; each bundle may
be protected by paper.
In any one package, bundles must be of the same weight and length;
(ii) in unit packages, or arranged but not bundled in the package
C.Packaging
The asparagus must be packed in such a way as to ensure adequate
protection for the produce.
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 and particularly of paper or stamps
bearing trade specifications is allowed provided that the printing or
labelling has been done with a non-toxic ink or glue.
The package must be free from any 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.
VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING
Each package must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the
same side, legibly and idelibly 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 neces-
sary by the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.
B.Nature of produce
‘Asparagus’ followed by the indication ‘white’, ‘green’, ‘violet’, or
‘violet/green’ if the contents of the package are not visible from the
outside and, where appropriate, the indication ‘short’, ‘tips’ or ‘mixture
white and violet’.
C.Origin of produce
Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national,
regional or local place name.
D.Commercial specifications
— Class,1999R2377 — EN — 20.05.2004 — 002.001 — 8
(1) OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 65 .▼B
▼M2
▼B
▼M2
▼B