The regulations for spinach of the varieties (cultivars) of Spinacia oleracea L., are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) | Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 spinach in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 4, each spinach 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 abnormal external moisture; |
| (i) | be free from foreign odours; |
| (j) | be free from floral stems; |
| (k) | be free from cold damage; |
| (I) | be free from sun-scorch; |
| (m) | be free from any other factors that detrimentally affect or may affect the quality of the spinach; |
| (n) | be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
| (o) | be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; |
| (p) | be of such development and condition as to enable it to withstand transport and handling; and |
| (q) | be uniform in colour; |
| (2) | The leaf-stalk of the spinach may not be longer than 100 mm. |
| (3) | The roots shall be cut off close to the base of the outer leaves. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
(4)
| (a) | Class 1 spinach may deviate from the quality standards for Class 1 by not more than 10% by mass: Provided that the deviating spinach ; |
| (i) | at least complies with quality standards for Class 2; |
| (ii) | does not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (b) | Class 2 and Class 3 spinach may deviate from the quality standard for Class 2 and Class 3 by not more than 15% and 25% respectively by mass: Provided that the deviating spinach does not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - | decay :4% and 6% respectively; |
| - | injuries: 8% and 10% respectively; |
| - | Arthropoda infestation: Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
| (c) | In the case of Lowest Class s - decay shall not exceed 20% by mass or number. |
Packaging
(5)
| (a) | The spinach must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly. |
| (b) | Packages must be free of all foreign matter. |
