Commission Regulation (EC) No 1543/2001 of 27 July 2001 laying down the marketing standard for lettuces and curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives
Modified by
  • Commission Regulation (EC) No 46/2003of 10 January 2003amending the marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables as regards mixes of different types of fresh fruit and vegetables in the same sales packageCommission Regulation (EC) No 6/2005of 4 January 2005correcting Regulations (EC) No 46/2003 and (EC) No 47/2003 as regards mixes of different types of fresh fruit and vegetables in the same sales package, 303R0046305R0006, January 11, 2003
  • Commission Regulation (EC) No 6/2005of 4 January 2005correcting Regulations (EC) No 46/2003 and (EC) No 47/2003 as regards mixes of different types of fresh fruit and vegetables in the same sales package, 305R0006, January 5, 2005
  • Commission Regulation (EC) No 907/2004of 29 April 2004amending the marketing standards applicable for fresh fruit and vegetables with regards to presentation and labelling, 304R0907, April 30, 2004
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1543/2001of 27 July 2001laying down the marketing standard for lettuces and curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetablesOJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1., as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 911/2001OJ L 129, 11.5.2001, p. 3., and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,Whereas:(1)Lettuce and curly and escarole chicory are among the products listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 for which standards must be adopted. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 79/88 of 13 January 1988 laying down quality standards for lettuces, curled-leaved endives, and broad-leaved (Batavian) endivesOJ L 10, 14.1.1988, p. 8., as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999OJ L 167, 2.7.1999, p. 22., has been amended frequently and can no longer ensure legal clarity.(2)Regulation (EC) No 79/88 should be repealed and the rules it contains recast. To that end and in the interest of preserving transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the standards for lettuces and curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives recommended by the Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).(3)Application of this standard should remove products of unsatisfactory quality from the market, bring production into line with consumer requirements and facilitate trade based on fair competition, thereby helping to improve profitability.(4)The standard applies at all marketing stages. Long-distance transport, storage over a certain period and the various processes the products undergo may cause certain deterioration owing to the biological development of the products or their relatively perishable nature. Account should be taken of such deterioration when applying the standard at the marketing stages following dispatch.(5)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1The marketing standard for the following products shall be as set out in the Annex:lettuces, falling within CN codes 070511 and 070519,curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives, falling within CN code 070529.The standard shall apply at all marketing stages under the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.However, at stages following dispatch, products may show in relation to the requirements of the standard a slight lack of freshness and turgidity, as well as slight deterioration due to their development and their tendency to perish.
Article 2Regulation (EEC) No 79/88 is repealed.
Article 3This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.It shall apply from 1 January 2002.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.ANNEXSTANDARD FOR LETTUCES, CURLED-LEAVED ENDIVES AND BROAD-LEAVED (BATAVIAN) ENDIVESI.DEFINITION OF PRODUCEThis standard applies to:lettuces of varieties (cultivars) grown from:Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L. (head (cabbage) lettuces including crisphead and "Iceberg" type lettuces).Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam. (Cos or Romaine lettuces),Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa L. (leaf lettuces) andcrosses of these varieties,curled-leaved endives of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum Lam.,broad-leaved (Batavian) endives (escaroles) of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia L. var. latifolium Lam.,to be supplied fresh to the consumer.This standard does not apply to produce for industrial processing, produce presented as individual leaves or lettuces in pots.II.PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITYThe purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for products after preparation and packaging.A.Minimum requirementsIn all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the produce must be:intact,sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,clean and trimmed, i.e. practically free from all earth or other growing medium and practically free of any visible foreign matter,fresh in appearance,turgescent,practically free from pests,practically free from damage caused by pests,not running to seed,free of abnormal external moisture,free of any foreign smell and/or taste.In the case of lettuce, a reddish discolouration, caused by low temperature during growth, is allowed, unless it seriously affects the appearance of the produce.The roots must be cut close to the base of the outer leaves and the cut must be neat.The produce must be of normal development.The development and condition of the procedure must be such as to enable it:to withstand transport and handling, andto arrive in a satisfactory condition at the place of destination.B.ClassificationProducts are classified in two classes defined below:(i)Class IProduce in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type, especially the colour.The produce must also be:well formed,firm, taking into account the cultivation methods and the type of produce,free from damage or deterioration impairing edibility,free from frost damage.Head lettuces must have a single well-formed heart. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, the heart may be small.Cos lettuces must have a heart, which may be small.The centre of curled-leaved endives and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives must be yellow in colour.(ii)Class IIThis class includes produce which does not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfies the minimum requirements specified above.The produce must be:reasonably well formed,free from damage and deterioration which may seriously impair edibility.The following defects may be allowed provided the produce retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:slight defects in colouring,slight damage caused by pests.Head lettuces must have a heart, which may be small. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, absence of heart is permissible.Cos lettuces may show no heart.III.PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZINGSize is determined by the weight of one unit.A.Minimum weightThe minimum weight for Classes I and II is:
Open-grownGrown under protection
Head lettuces (excluding crisphead and "Iceberg" type lettuces) and Cos or Romaine lettuces (excluding "Little gem" type lettuces)150 g100 g
Crisphead and "Iceberg" type lettuces300 g200 g
Leaf lettuces and "Little gem" type lettuces100 g100 g
Curled-leaved endives and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives200 g150 g
B.Uniformity(a)LettucesIn all classes, the difference between the lightest and heaviest units in each package must not exceed:40 g when the lightest units weighs less than 150 g per unit,100 g when the lightest unit weighs between 150 g and 300 g per unit,150 g when the lightest unit weighs between 300 g and 450 g per unit,300 g when the lightest unit weighs more than 450 g per unit.(b)Curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endivesIn all classes, the difference between the lightest and heaviest units in each package must not exceed 300 g.IV.PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCESTolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.A.Quality tolerances(i)Class I10 % by number of units not satisfying the requirements of the class but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.(ii)Class II10 % by number of units satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.B.Size tolerancesIn all classes, 10 % by number of units not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing, but weighing no more than 10 % over or under the size in question.V.PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATIONA.UnformityThe contents of each package must be uniform and contain only produce of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size.However, a mixture of the various types of produce described in this standard may be packed together, provided they are uniform in quality and, for each type concerned, in size. In addition, the types should be clearly distinguishable from one another and the proportion of each type in the package should be visible without damaging the package.The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.Notwithstanding the preceding provisions in this point, products covered by this Regulation may be mixed, in sales packages of a net weight of three kilograms or less, with different types of fresh fruit and vegetables on the conditions laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 48/2003OJ L 7, 11.1.2003, p. 65..B.PackagingThe produce must be packaged in such a way as to protect it properly.The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.Packages must be free of all foreign matter.Stickers individually affixed on product shall be such as, when removed, neither to leave visible traces of glue, nor to lead to skin defects.C.PresentationProduce presented in more than one layer may be packed base-to-heart provided the layers or heads are suitably protected or separated.VI.PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKINGEach package must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside.A.IdentificationThe name and the address of the packer and/or the dispatcherThis mention may be replaced:for all packages with the exception of pre-packages, by the officially issued or accepted code mark representing the packer and/or the dispatcher, indicated in close connection with the reference "Packer and/or Dispatcher" (or equivalent abbreviations);for pre-packages only, by the name and the address of a seller established within the Community indicated in close connection with the mention "Packed for:" or an equivalent mention. In this case, the labelling shall also include a code representing the packer and/or the dispatcher. The seller shall give all information deemed necessary by the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.B.Nature of produce"Lettuces", "Butterhead lettuces", "Batavia", "Crisphead lettuces (Iceberg)", "Cos lettuces", "Leaf lettuce" (or, for example and if appropriate, "Oak leaf", "Lollo bionda", "Lollo rossa", "Curled-leaved endives" or "Broad-leaved (Batavian) endives" or other synonyms if the contents are not visible from the outside"Little gem" where appropriate or other synonymsAn indication "grown under protection", or other appropriate indication, where appropriateName of the variety (optional)Where different types of produce are mixed together:the indication "Mixed salads", or,the indication of each type of produce, and, where the contents are not visible from the outside, the indication of the number of pieces of each type.C.Origin of produceCountry of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.D.Commercial specificationsClassSize, expressed by the minimum weight per unit or the number of unitsNet weight (optional),E.Official control mark (optional)Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the first subparagraph, when they contain sales packages, clearly visible from the outside, and all bearing these particulars. These packages shall be free from any indications such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised, the particulars shall be given on a notice placed in an obvious position on at least two sides of the pallet.