Commission Regulation (EC) No 2288/97 of 18 November 1997 laying down marketing standards for garlic

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2288/97 of 18 November 1997 laying down marketing standards for garlic
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 vegetables (1), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof,
Whereas garlic is listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as one of the products for which standards must be adopted; whereas Council Regulation No 10/65/EEC of 26 January 1965 laying down common quality standards for garlic (2), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 888/97 (3), has been amended numerous times and is no longer legally clear;
Whereas the rules concerned should be redrafted and Regulation No 10/65/EEC repealed; whereas, for the sake of transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the standards recommended for garlic by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;
Whereas, to facilitate trade in garlic, the Community standards of the presentation of the product should be simplified to make them less restrictive than the international standards recommended by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;
Whereas the application of the standards should eliminate poor quality products from the market, direct garlic production to meet consumer requirements and facilitate trade on the basis of fair competition, so helping to improve profitability;
Whereas the standards are applicable at all marketing stages; whereas transportation over large distances, storage for a certain period and the handling which the product undergoes may result in some deterioration owing to the product's biological development and perishability; whereas account must be taken of such deterioration when the standards are applied at the 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 accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,