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( 1 ) OJ NO 30 , 20 . 4 . 1962 , P . 965/62 .

REGULATION NO 183/64/EEC OF THE COUNCIL OF 17 NOVEMBER 1964 LAYING DOWN COMMON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR ASPARAGUS AND CUCUMBERS

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ,

HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ;

HAVING REGARD TO COUNCIL REGULATION NO 23 ( 1 ) ON THE PROGRESSIVE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMON ORGANISATION OF THE MARKET IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES , AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 4 ( 1 ) THEREOF ;

HAVING REGARD TO THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMISSION ;

WHEREAS THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE TRADE IN ASPARAGUS AND CUCUMBERS IN SEVERAL PRODUCER MEMBER STATES AND SUBSTANTIAL INTRA-COMMUNITY TRADE IN THE SAME ;

WHEREAS ALL THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION NO 23 MUST THEREFORE BE APPLIED TO THESE PRODUCTS ; WHEREAS IT IS NECESSARY TO THIS END TO ADD THESE PRODUCTS TO THE LIST SET OUT IN ANNEX I TO THAT REGULATION AND TO LAY DOWN COMMON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR THEM ; WHEREAS TRADE IN THE PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE STANDARDS MUST BE LIBERALISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 9 ( 2 ) OF REGULATION NO 23 ;

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :

ARTICLE 1

1 . THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE ADDED TO ANNEX I TO REGULATION NO 23 :

ANNEX I C

07.01 K ASPARAGUS

07.01 O CUCUMBERS

2 . THE QUALITY STANDARDS FOR

- ASPARAGUS ( SUB-HEADING NO 07.01 K OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF ) ;

- CUCUMBERS ( SUB-HEADING NO 07.01 O OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF ) ;

ARE SET OUT IN THE ANNEXES TO THIS REGULATION

ARTICLE 2

THIS REGULATION SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON 1 JANUARY 1965 .

THIS REGULATION SHALL BE BINDING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND DIRECTLY APPLICABLE IN ALL MEMBER STATES .

DONE AT BRUSSELS , 17 NOVEMBER 1964 .

FOR THE COUNCIL

THE PRESIDENT

R . HUETTERBRAEUKER

ANNEX I/1

COMMON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR ASPARAGUS

I . DEFINITION OF PRODUCE

THIS STANDARD APPLIES TO SHOOTS OF ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L . TO BE SUPPLIED FRESH TO THE CONSUMER , ASPARAGUS FOR PROCESSING BEING EXCLUDED .

ASPARAGUS SHOOTS ARE CLASSIFIED IN THREE GROUPS ACCORDING TO COLOUR :

1 . WHITE ASPARAGUS ;

2 . VIOLET ASPARAGUS , HAVING TIPS OF A COLOUR BETWEEN PINK AND VIOLET OR PURPLE ;

3 . GREEN ASPARAGUS , HAVING THE TIPS AND A PART OF THE SHOOT GREEN .

THIS STANDARD DOES NOT APPLY TO ASPARAGUS OF LESS THAN 10 MM DIAMETER .

II . QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

A . GENERAL

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO DEFINE THE QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ASPARAGUS AT THE DISPATCHING STAGE , AFTER PREPARATION AND PACKAGING .

B . MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

SHOOTS MUST BE :

- WHOLE

- FRESH IN APPEARANCE AND FRESH-SMELLING

- SOUND

- FREE FROM DAMAGE BY RODENTS OR INSECTS

- PRACTICALLY UNBRUISED

- CLEAN , I.E . PRACTICALLY FREE FROM EARTH OR ANY OTHER DIRT

- FREE FROM ANY UNDUE EXTERNAL MOISTURE , I.E . ADEQUATELY " DRIED " IF THEY HAVE BEEN WASHED ( SHOOTS MAY BE WASHED BUT NOT SOAKED )

- FREE FROM FOREIGN SMELL OR TASTE .

THE CUT AT THE BASE OF THE SHOOTS MUST BE AS CLEAN AND AS SQUARE AS POSSIBLE .

THE ASPARAGUS MUST NOT AFTER CUTTING HAVE UNDERGONE ANY TREATMENT OTHER THAN RE-COOLING TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE ITS FRESH APPEARANCE .

IN ADDITION , SHOOTS MUST BE NEITHER HOLLOW , SPLIT , PEELED NOR BROKEN . SMALL CRACKS WHICH HAVE APPEARED AFTER HARVESTING ARE , HOWEVER , ALLOWED , SO LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCEED THE LIMITS LAID DOWN UNDER " TOLERANCES " . THE CONDITION OF THE PRODUCE MUST BE SUCH AS TO ALLOW IT TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORT AND HANDLING AND MEET MARKET REQUIREMENTS AT THE PLACE OF DESTINATION .

C . CLASSIFICATION

( I ) " EXTRA " CLASS

SHOOTS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE WELL FORMED AND PRACTICALLY STRAIGHT . HAVING REGARD TO THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUP TO WHICH THEY BELONG , THEIR TIPS MUST BE VERY COMPACT .

ONLY A FEW VERY SLIGHT TRACES OF RUST , REMOVEABLE BY NORMAL PEELING BY THE CONSUMER , ARE ALLOWED .

FOR THE " WHITE " ASPARAGUS GROUP , THE TIPS AND SHOOTS MUST BE WHITE ; ONLY A FAINT PINK TINT APPEARING ON THE SHOOTS AFTER CUTTING IS ALLOWED .

IN THE " WHITE " AND " VIOLET " ASPARAGUS GROUPS , NO TRACES OF WOODINESS ARE ALLOWED ; IN THE " GREEN " ASPARAGUS GROUP , A SLIGHT TRACE OF WOODINESS IS ALLOWED .

TO IMPROVE PRESENTATION WHEN THE ASPARAGUS IS PACKED IN BUNDLES , THE BASE OF THE SHOOTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUNDLE MAY BE SLIGHTLY BEVELLED , SO LONG AS THE BEVELLING DOES NOT EXCEED 1 CM .

( II ) CLASS I

SHOOTS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE WELL FORMED .

THEY MAY BE SLIGHTLY CURVED .

HAVING REGARD TO THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUP TO WHICH THEY BELONG , THEIR TIPS MUST BE COMPACT .

A FEW SLIGHT TRACES OF RUST REMOVEABLE BY NORMAL PEELING BY THE CONSUMER ARE ALLOWED .

FOR THE " WHITE " ASPARAGUS GROUP , THE TIPS MAY BE SLIGHTLY COLOURED BEFORE CUTTING AND A FAINT PINK TINT APPEARING ON THE SHOOT AFTER CUTTING IS ALLOWED PROVIDED THESE COLORATIONS DISAPPEAR AFTER COOKING .

IN THE " WHITE " ASPARAGUS GROUP , NO WOODY SHOOTS ARE ALLOWED . IN THE " VIOLET " AND " GREEN " ASPARAGUS GROUPS , A TRACE OF WOODINESS IS PERMISSIBLE .

( III ) CLASS II

COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS CLASS , SHOOTS MAY BE LESS WELL FORMED , MORE CURVED AND HAVE LESS COMPACT TIPS .

TRACES OF RUST , REMOVABLE BY PEELING , ARE ALLOWED .

SHOOTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY WOODY .

THE TIPS OF " WHITE " ASPARAGUS MAY HAVE A COLORATION OTHER THAN A GREEN TINT .

III . SIZING

SHOOTS ARE SIZED BY LENGTH AND DIAMETER .

A . SIZING BY LENGTH

THE LENGTH OF THE SHOOTS MUST BE BETWEEN :

- 17 AND 22 CM FOR LONG ASPARAGUS

- 12 AND 17 CM FOR SHORT ASPARAGUS

- 12 AND 22 CM FOR CLASS II ASPARAGUS IN BULK , IN PACKAGES

- UNDER 12 CM FOR ASPARAGUS TIPS .

HOWEVER , GREEN ASPARAGUS SHOOTS MAY HAVE A MAXIMUM LENGTH 27 CM PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF THEIR LENGTH IS GREEN .

B . SIZING BY DIAMETER

THE DIAMETER OF SHOOTS SHALL BE MEASURED AT THE MID-POINT OF THEIR LENGTH .

THE MINIMUM DIAMETER AND THE SIZING SHALL BE : ( SEE O.J . )

IV . TOLERANCES

TOLERANCES IN RESPECT OF QUALITY AND SIZE ARE ALLOWED FOR SUBSTANDARD PRODUCE IN EACH PACKAGE .

A . QUALITY TOLERANCES

( I ) " EXTRA " CLASS

5 % BY WEIGHT OR NUMBER OF SHOOTS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS IMMEDIATELY BELOW OR HAVING SLIGHT UNHEALED CRACKS APPEARING AFTER HARVESTING .

( II ) CLASS I

10 % BY WEIGHT OR NUMBER OF SHOOTS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS IMMEDIATELY BELOW OR HAVING SLIGHT UNHEALED CRACKS APPEARING AFTER HARVESTING .

( III ) CLASS II

10 % BY WEIGHT OR NUMBER OF SHOOTS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION .

B . SIZE TOLERANCES

10 % BY WEIGHT OR NUMBER OF SHOOTS DEVIATING FROM THE SPECIFIED LIMITS SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM DEVIATION OF 1 CM IN LENGTH AND 2 MM IN DIAMETER .

V . PACKAGING AND PRESENTATION

A . UNIFORMITY

THE CONTENTS OF EACH PACKAGE OR EACH BUNDLE IN THE SAME PACKAGE MUST BE UNIFORM , AND CONSIST ONLY OF SHOOTS OF THE SAME QUALITY , THE SAME COLOUR AND - IF THE PRODUCE HAS TO BE SIZED - OF THE SAME SIZE .

HOWEVER , SHOOTS OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR MAY BE ALLOWED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS :

( A ) WHITE ASPARAGUS : 10 % OF VIOLET ASPARAGUS ;

( B ) VIOLET AND GREEN ASPARAGUS : 10 % OF ANOTHER COLOUR .

B . PACKAGING

THE PACKAGING MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE PRODUCE .

ANY PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL USED INSIDE THE PACKAGE MUST BE NEW AND HARMLESS TO HUMAN FOOD . WHERE PRINTED MATTER IS USED , THE PRINTING MUST BE ON THE OUTSIDE ONLY SO AS NOT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PRODUCE .

THE PRODUCE WHEN PACKED MUST BE FREE FROM ANY FOREIGN BODIES .

SHOOTS MAY BE PACKED IN ONE OR OTHER OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS :

( I ) IN BUNDLES ( FIRMLY BOUND ) OF 500 G , 1 KG OR 2 KG

SHOOTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF EACH BUNDLE MUST CORRESPOND IN APPEARANCE AND SIZE WITH THE AVERAGE OF THE WHOLE BUNDLE .

SHOOTS PACKED IN THIS WAY MUST BE OF UNIFORM LENGTH .

BUNDLES MUST BE ARRANGED EVENLY IN THE PACKAGE ; EACH BUNDLE MAY BE PROTECTED BY PAPER .

IN ANY ONE PACKAGE , BUNDLES MUST BE OF THE SAME WEIGHT AND LENGTH .

( II ) IN BULK , IN PACKAGES

VI . MARKING

EACH PACKAGE MUST BEAR THE FOLLOWING PARTICULARS LEGIBLY AND INDELIBLY MARKED ON THE OUTSIDE :

A . IDENTIFICATION

PACKER * NAME AND ADDRESS OR CODE MARK .

DISPATCHER *

B . NATURE OF PRODUCE

" ASPARAGUS " FOLLOWED BY THE INDICATION " WHITE " , " VIOLET " OR " GREEN " WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE ARE NOT VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND , WHERE APPROPRIATE , THE INDICATION " SHORT " OR " TIPS " .

C . ORIGIN OF PRODUCE

DISTRICT OF ORIGIN , OR NATIONAL , REGIONAL OR LOCAL TRADE NAME .

D . COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS

- QUALITY CLASS

- SIZE : THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM DIAMETERS OF THE SHOOTS OR THE INDICATION " NOT SIZED "

- FOR ASPARAGUS PACKED IN BUNDLES , THE NUMBER OF BUNDLES AND THE UNIT WEIGHT PER BUNDLE .

E . OFFICIAL CONTROL MARK ( OPTIONAL ) .

ANNEX I/2

COMMON QUALITY STANDARDS FOR CUCUMBERS

I . DEFINITION OF PRODUCE

THIS STANDARD APPLIES TO CUCUMBERS , BEING VARIETIES OF CUCUMIS SATIVUS L . , TO BE SUPPLIED FRESH TO THE CONSUMER , CUCUMBERS FOR PROCESSING AND GHERKINS BEING EXCLUDED .

II . QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

A . GENERAL

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO DEFINE THE QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CUCUMBERS AT THE DISPATCHING STAGE .

B . MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

THE CUCUMBERS MUST BE :

- WHOLE

- SOUND ( SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR CLASSES I AND II )

- FRESH IN APPEARANCE

- FIRM

- CLEAN , IN PARTICULAR FREE FROM DIRT , SOIL AND VISIBLE TRACES OF CHEMICALS

- FREE FROM BITTER TASTE ( SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR CLASS II UNDER " TOLERANCES " )

- FREE FROM ABNORMAL EXTERNAL MOISTURE

- FREE FROM FOREIGN SMELL OR TASTE .

CUCUMBERS MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED BUT THEIR SEEDS MUST BE SOFT . THE STATE OF THE PRODUCE MUST BE SUCH AS TO ALLOW IT TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORT AND HANDLING AND TO MEET MARKET REQUIREMENTS AT THE PLACE OF DESTINATION .

C . CLASSIFICATION

( I ) " EXTRA " CLASS

CUCUMBERS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE OF SUPERLATIVE QUALITY AND HAVE ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF THE VARIETY . THEY MUST BE :

- WELL DEVELOPED

- WELL SHAPED AND PRACTICALLY STRAIGHT ( MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE ARC : 10 MM PER 10 CM OF LENGTH OF THE CUCUMBER )

- OF GOOD COLOUR , TYPICAL OF THE VARIETY

- FREE FROM DEFECTS , INCLUDING ALL DEFORMATIONS AND PARTICULARLY THOSE CAUSED BY SEED FORMATION .

( II ) CLASS I

CUCUMBERS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE OF GOOD QUALITY . THEY MUST BE :

- REASONABLY DEVELOPED

- REASONABLY WELL-SHAPED AND PRACTICALLY STRAIGHT ( MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE ARC : 10 MM PER 10 CM OF LENGTH OF THE CUCUMBER ) .

THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE ALLOWED :

- A SLIGHT DEFORMATION , BUT EXCLUDING THAT CAUSED BY SEED FORMATION

- A SLIGHT DEFECT IN COLOURING , ESPECIALLY THE LIGHT COLOURED PART OF THE CUCUMBER WHERE IT TOUCHED THE GROUND DURING GROWTH

- SLIGHT SKIN BLEMISHES DUE TO RUBBING , HANDLING OR LOW TEMPERATURE , PROVIDING THAT SUCH BLEMISHES HAVE HEALED AND DO NOT AFFECT THE KEEPING QUALITY .

( III ) CLASS II

CUCUMBERS IN THIS CLASS MUST BE OF MARKETABLE QUALITY . THEY MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS , BUT MAY SHOW THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS :

- DEFORMATION OTHER THAN SERIOUS SEED DEVELOPMENT

- DEFECTS IN COLOURING UP TO ONE-THIRD OF THE SURFACE ( IN THE CASE OF CUCUMBERS GROWN UNDER GLASS , CONSIDERABLE DEFECTS IN COLOURING IN THE AFFECTED PART ARE NOT ALLOWED )

- HEALED CRACKS

- SLIGHT DAMAGE CAUSED BY RUBBING AND HANDLING WHICH DOES NOT SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE KEEPING QUALITY AND COMMERCIAL VALUE .

ALL THE DEFECTS LISTED ABOVE ARE ALLOWED FOR STRAIGHT AND SLIGHTLY CROOKED CUCUMBERS .

ON THE OTHER HAND CROOKED CUCUMBERS ARE ALLOWED ONLY IF THEY HAVE NO MORE THAN SLIGHT DEFECTS IN COLOURING AND HAVE NO DEFECTS OR DEFORMATION OTHER THAN CROOKEDNESS .

SLIGHTLY CROOKED CUCUMBERS MAY HAVE A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THE ARC OF 20 MM PER 10 CM OF LENGTH OF THE CUCUMBER . CROOKED CUCUMBERS MAY HAVE A GREATER ARC AND MUST BE PACKED SEPARATELY .

III . SIZING

( I ) THE MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR OUTDOOR CUCUMBERS IN ALL CLASSES IS 180 G . THE MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR FORCED GLASSHOUSE AND FRAME CUCUMBERS IS 250 G .

( II ) FORCED GLASSHOUSE AND FRAME CUCUMBERS MARKETED BETWEEN 1 JUNE AND 30 SEPTEMBER MUST , IN ADDITION , SATISFY THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS :

- MINIMUM LENGTH : 30 CM

- DIAMETER ( MEASURED HALF WAY ALONG THEIR LENGTH ) : BETWEEN 4 AND 7 CM .

( III ) SIZING IS COMPULSORY FOR THE " EXTRA " CLASS AND CLASS I . THE DIFFERENCE IN WEIGHT BETWEEN THE HEAVIEST AND LIGHTEST CUCUMBER IN THE SAME PACKAGE MAY NOT EXCEED 150 G .

IV . TOLERANCES

TOLERANCES IN RESPECT OF QUALITY AND SIZE SHALL BE ALLOWED FOR PRODUCE NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ITS CLASS .

A . QUALITY TOLERANCES

( I ) " EXTRA " CLASS

5 % BY NUMBER OF CUCUMBERS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CLASS I .

( II ) CLASS I

10 % BY NUMBER OF CUCUMBERS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF CLASS II .

( III ) CLASS II

10 % BY NUMBER OF CUCUMBERS NOT SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CLASS BUT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION . A MAXIMUM OF 2 % BY NUMBER OF CUCUMBERS MAY HAVE TIPS WITH A BITTER TASTE .

B . SIZE TOLERANCES

FOR ALL CLASSES : 10 % BY NUMBER OF CUCUMBERS NOT CONFORMING TO THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS . HOWEVER , THIS TOLERANCE IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO PRODUCE WHICH DIFFERS BY NOT MORE THAN 10 % FROM THE SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS SPECIFIED .

C . CUMULATIVE TOLERANCES

IN NO CASE MAY TOLERANCES OF QUALITY AND SIZE TAKEN TOGETHER EXCEED :

- 10 % FOR THE " EXTRA " CLASS

- 15 % FOR CLASSES I AND II .

V . PACKAGING AND PRESENTATION

A . UNIFORMITY

EACH PACKAGE , TRANSPORT CONTAINER OR SECTION THEREOF MUST CONTAIN CUCUMBERS OF THE SAME VARIETY , QUALITY CLASS AND - IF THE PRODUCE HAS TO BE SIZED - SIZE .

B . PACKAGING

PACKAGING IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL CUCUMBERS OF THE " EXTRA " CLASS AND CLASS I .

THE CUCUMBERS MUST BE PACKED SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTLY SO AS TO AVOID DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT .

ANY PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL USED WITHIN THE PACKAGE , TRANSPORT CONTAINER OR SECTION THEREOF MUST BE NEW AND HARMLESS TO HUMAN FOOD . WHEN PRINTED MATTER IS USED , THE PRINTING MUST BE ON THE OUTSIDE ONLY SO AS NOT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PRODUCE .

THE PRODUCE WHEN PACKED MUST BE FREE FROM ANY FOREIGN BODIES .

VI . MARKING

1 . IN THE CASE OF PRODUCE PUT UP IN PACKAGES , EACH PACKAGE MUST BEAR THE FOLLOWING PARTICULARS LEGIBLY AND INDELIBLY MARKED ON THE OUTSIDE :

A . IDENTIFICATION

PACKER * NAME AND ADDRESS OR CODE MARK .

DISPATCHER *

B . NATURE OF THE PRODUCE

" GLASSHOUSE CUCUMBERS " * WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE ARE NOT VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE .

" FRAME CUCUMBERS " *

" OUTDOOR CUCUMBERS " *

C . ORIGIN OF PRODUCE

DISTRICT OF ORIGIN , OR NATIONAL , REGIONAL OR LOCAL TRADE NAME .

D . COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS

- CLASS FOLLOWED , WHERE APPROPRIATE , BY THE WORDS " CROOKED CUCUMBERS " IN THE CASE OF CLASS II .

- SIZE ( IF THE PRODUCE SIZED ) INDICATED BY THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF THE CUCUMBERS .

E . OFFICIAL CONTROL MARK ( OPTIONAL )

2 . IN THE CASE OF PRODUCE IN CLASS II SHIPPED LOOSE ( LOADED DIRECT INTO A TRANSPORT CONTAINER ) THESE PARTICULARS MUST APPEAR IN A DOCUMENT ACCOMPANYING THE PRODUCE .

Regulation No 183/64/EEC of the Council of 17 November 1964 laying down common quality standards for asparagus and cucumbers

Modified by

Commission Regulation (EEC) No 845/76 of 9 April 1976 amending the common quality standards for cucumbers