Commission Regulation (EC) No 2137/2002 of 29 November 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999 laying down the marketing standard for table grapes

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2137/2002
of 29 November 2002
amending Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999 laying down the marketing standard for table grapes
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 vegetables(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 545/2002(2), and in particular Article 2(2),
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999(3), amended by Regulation (EC) No 716/2001(4), laid down provisions concerning the quality, the sizing and the tolerances for table grapes.
(2) In the interest of preserving transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the standard for table grapes recommended by the Working Party on standardisation of perishable produce and quality development of the United nations Economic Commission for Europe. The latter having been modified several times along the two last years, the Community standard should be updated accordingly.
(3) The degree of ripeness and, accordingly, the taste quality, of table grapes is directly correlated to the sugar content, as well as to the ratio between acidity and sugar content, measured on the produce concerned. In order to avoid that table grapes of insufficient quality are marketed, minimum sugar content values should be laid down, as well as a general requirement with regards to the sugar-acidity ratio.
(4) The provisions concerning sizing of table grapes are complex because of the existence of three different lists of varieties in the Appendix to the standard. In order to simplify the text, two of the three lists of varieties shall be deleted.
(5) It is necessary accordingly to amend Regulation (EC) No 2789/1999.
(6) In order to apply the provisions of the present Regulation, the traders have to comply with certain technical adaptations, in particular with regard to their packing facilities. The application of the present Regulation shall therefore start after a period of a sufficient length after the date of its entry into force.
(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,