The regulations for carrots of the varieties (cultivars) grown of Daucus carota L., are as follows:
Quality standards
(1) | Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class carrots in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 8, carrots shall — |
(c) | be clean and free from foreign matter, including soil; |
(d) | be free from Arthropoda infestation; |
(e) | be free from insect damage or damage caused by other organisms; |
(f) | be free from blemishes; |
(h) | be free from injuries; |
(i) | be free from bruises; |
(j) | be free from abnormal external moisture; |
(k) | not be running to seed; |
(I) | be free from foreign odours; |
(m) | be free from cold damage; |
(n) | be free from sun-scorch; |
(o) | be fresh and firm and show no sign of withering |
(p) | not be malformed or forked or have secondary roots; |
(r) | be free from any other factors that affect or may affect the quality of the carrots detrimentally; |
(s) | have fresh, green and sound foliage not longer than 50 mm: Provided that if topped, it must be evened off or cut off at the top of the root, without damaging it; |
(t) | be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
(u) | be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
Classifications
(a) | Carrots classified as Class 1— |
(i) | shall be of a colour typical of the cultivar: Provided that the tops of the carrots may ; |
(aa) | have a purple or green discolouration of 10 mm in the case of carrots 80 mm and shorter; or |
(bb) | have a purple or green discolouration of 20 mm in the case of carrots longer than 80 mm; |
(ii) | may have one or more cracks which separately or collectively do not exceed— |
(aa) | 10 mm in length and 2 mm in depth in the case of carrots 80 mm or shorter; and |
(bb) | 20 mm in length and 2 mm in depth in the case of carrots longer than 80 mm. |
(iii) | may have slight defects in shape; and |
(iv) | the roots must be of fresh appearance. |
(b) | Carrots classified as Class 2 and Class 3 ; |
(i) | shall be of a colour typical of the cultivar: Provided that the tops of the carrots may ; |
(aa) | have a purple or green discolouration of 20 mm in the case of carrots 100 mm or shorter; or |
(bb) | have a purple or green discolouration of 30 mm in the case of carrots longer than 100 mm; and |
(ii) | may have one or more cracks which separately or collectively do not exceed 30 mm in length and 3 mm in depth; |
(c) | In the case of Lowest Class - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
(3) | Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 carrots may be packed ; |
(b) | with foliage: Provided that the foliage shall be fresh. |
(4) | Carrots shall be packed and sorted according to ; |
(a) | the diameter of the carrot measured at the stem; |
(b) | the mass of a carrot packed without foliage; or |
(c) | the length of the carrot in the case of miniature carrots. |
(5) | In the case of carrots, other than miniature, early carrots and small root varieties ; |
(a) | the minimum and maximum diameter for Class 1 carrots is 20 mm and 45 mm respectively; |
(b) | the maximum difference in diameter between the smallest and the largest Class 1 carrot in the same packing shall not exceed 20 mm; |
(c) | the minimum and maximum mass for Class 1 carrots is 50 g and 200 g respectively; |
(d) | the maximum difference in mass between the lightest and the heaviest Class 1 carrot in the same packing shall not exceed 150 g; |
(e) | carrots classified as Class 2 and Class 3 shall comply with the minimum packing and sorting requirements,and |
(f) | In the case of Lowest Class carrots - unspecified. |
(6) | In the case of early carrots and small root varieties— |
(a) | the minimum and maximum diameter of early carrots is 10 mm and 40 mm respectively; and |
(b) | the minimum and maximum mass of early carrots is 8 g and 150 g respectively. |
(7) | In the case of miniature carrots the carrot may not exceed 120 mm in length. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
(a) | Class 1 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 by a maximum of 10% by mass or number in case of bunched carrots and an additional 10% by mass or number in case of bunched carrots may show a discolouration green or violet purple on the top: Provided that the carrots ; |
(i) | at least comply with the quality standards for Class 2; and |
(ii) | do not exceed the following individual limits: |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Degree as set out in regulation 4(4)(c); Part 1. |
(b) | Class 2 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 by a maximum of 15% by mass and an additional 25% by mass broken carrots and carrots with broken tips are permissible: Provided that the carrots ; |
(i ) | do not exceed the following individual limits, excluding carrots that are broken or have tips that are broken off: |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
(c) | Class 3 carrots may deviate from the quality standards for Class 3 by 25% by mass and an additional 25% by mass of broken carrots are permissible: Provided that the carrots ; |
(i) | are not affected by decay; and |
(ii) | do not exceed the following individual limits, excluding carrots that are broken or have tips that are broken off: |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
(d) | In the case of Lowest Class- decay shall not not exceed 20% by mass or number. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
(9) | Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 carrots may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements set out in regulations (4) to (7), with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by mass or number. |
Permissible deviations with regard to colour variations
(10) | Class 1 and Class 2 carrots may deviate from the colour variations requirements, set out in subregulations 1 and 2, with 20% and 25% respectively by mass or number. Class 3 and Lowest Class are unspecified. |
Marking requirements
(11) | Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part 1 each container in which Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class carrots are packed, shall be marked with— |
(a) | the minimum and maximum diameter or mass per carrot, where applicable; |
(b) | the expressions "bunched carrots" or "carrots" and "early carrots" or "main-crop carrots", if the contents are not visible from the outside; |
(c) | the variety - optional; |
(d) | the number of bunches in the case of bunched carrots; and |
(e) | the expression "mini carrots" or "baby carrots" or other appropriate term for miniature produce, where appropriate: Provided that where several types of miniature produce are mixed in the same package, all products shall be mentioned. |