Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972) Regulations Regulations relating to Maximum Levels of Metals in Foodstuffs 1. Definitions

 

In these Regulations a word or expression defined in the Act bears the meaning so assigned and, unless the context otherwise indicates—

 

"Berries and other small fruits"

means food derived from a variety of perennial plants and shrubs having fruit characterized by a high surface: weight ratio.

Examples include, Agritos; Amur river grape; Arguta kiwifruit; Aronia berries; Bayberries; Bearberry; Bilberry; Bilberry, Bog; Bilberry, Red; Blackberries; Blueberries; Buffaloberry; Buffalo currant; Che; Chilean guava; Cloudberry; Cranberry; Currants, Black, Red, White; Dewberries; Elderberries; European barberry; Guelder rose; Gooseberry; Grapes; Huckleberries; Jostaberries; Juneberries; Mulberries; Muntries; Native currant; Partridge berry; Phalsa; Raspberries, Red, Black; Riberries; Rose hips; Salal; Schisandraberry; Sea buckthorn; Service berries; Silverberry, Russian; Strawberry; Strawberries, Wild; Table grapes; Vaccinium berries and Wine grapes;

 

"bulb vegetables"

means pungent highly flavoured foods derived from fleshy scale bulbs (in some commodities including stem and leaves), of the genus Allium. Examples include; garlic, onion, carosella, chives, shallots, leek, fennel, kurrat and rakkyo;

 

"brassica vegetables"

means foods derived from the leafy heads, stems and immature inflorescences of plants belonging to the genus Brassica of the family Cruciferaeh. Examples include brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kailan, kohlrabi, cauliflower, pakchoi and collards;

 

"cereal grains"

means foods derived from the ears (heads) of starchy seeds produced by a variety of plants, primarily of the grass family (Gramineae) and includes Buckwheat and Chenopodium;

 

"fish"

means all aquatic vertebrates of the super class, Osteichthyes, unless otherwise specified;

 

"fruiting vegetables"

means plants of the gourd family "Cucurbitaceae".

Examples include melons, musk melons, butternuts, cantaloupes, watermelon, pumpkins, squashes (including summer and winter squash), patty pans, gourds, zucchini, cucumbers and gherkins, unless otherwise stated;

 

"leafy vegetables"

means foods derived from the leaves of a wide variety of edible plants, usually annuals or biennials. Examples include spinach, endive, celery, fennel, parsley, lettuce, rhubarb, Swiss chard, mustard and rape, unless otherwise stated;

 

"legumes"

means foods derived from the succulent seed and immature pods of leguminous plants commonly known as beans and peas;

 

"maximum level (ML)"

means the maximum concentration of a substance permitted based on the edible content of the foodstuff, i.e. that part of the foodstuff that is normally consumed;

 

"metal"

includes any chemical form of that metal;

 

"pulses"

means foods derived from the mature, naturally or artificially dried seeds, of leguminous plants known as dry beans and dry peas;

 

"root and tuber vegetables"

means foods derived from starchy enlarged solid roots, tubers, corms or rhizomes, mostly subterranean, of various species of plants, mostly annuals Examples include artichoke, parsnips, sugar beet, garden beet, beetroot, yams, turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, garden radish, radishes, horseradish and chicory;

 

"stalk and stem vegetables"

are the edible stalks, leaf stems or immature shoots, from a variety of annual or perennial plants, and includes globe artichoke (the immature flowerhead) of the family Compositae. Examples include witloof chicory (sprouts), artichoke- globe, asparagus, bamboo shoots, cardoon, celery, celtuce, palm hearts, rhubarb; and

 

"the Act"

means the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act,1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972).