The regulations for fennel of the varieties (cultivars) of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. are as follows:
Quality standards
(1) | Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Lowest Class fennel in subregulation 2 and 3 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 7, fennel 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; |
(g) | be free from injuries; |
(h) | be free from bruises; |
(j) | be free from abnormal external moisture; |
(i) | be free from foreign odours; |
(k) | not be running to seed; |
(l) | be free from cold damage; |
(m) | be free from sun-scorch; |
(o) | be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
(p) | be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
(q) | be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
Classification
(2) | Fennel classified as Class 1 shall have ; |
(a) | colour typical of the cultivar; and |
(b) | outer ribs that are compact, fleshy, tender and white. |
(3) | Fennel classified as Class 2 and Class 3 may have green patches that appear on the outside of the bulb: Provided that it does not cover more than 30% of its surface. |
(4) | In the case of lowest class - unspecified. |
Packing and sorting requirements
(5) | Fennel shall be packed and sorted according to the maximum diameter of the equatorial section. |
(6) | The minimum diameter for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 is 60 mm |
(7) | The difference in diameter between the smallest and largest Class 1 fennel in the same package shall not exceed 20 mm. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
(a) | Class 1 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 with 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; |
(i) | at least comply with quality standards for Class 2; |
(ii) | do not exceed the following individual limits: and |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
(b) | Class 2 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 2 with 15% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; |
- | do not exceed the following individual limits: |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
(c) | Class 3 fennel may deviate from the quality standards for Class 3 with 25% by mass: Provided that the deviating fennel ; do not exceed the following individual limits: |
- | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
(9) | Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 fennel may deviate from packing and sorting requirements set out in subregulations 4 to 6, with 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by mass: Provided that the deviations may not be extended to include fennel with a diameter below 55 mm. |
Marking requirements
(10) | Subject to the provisions of regulation 10(1): Part I, each container in which Class 1 and Class 2 fennel is packed shall be marked with the minimum and maximum diameter and in the case of Class 3 and Lowest Class the minimum diameter. |