PREAMBLE (NOT PART OF THE STANDARD)

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END OF PREAMBLE (NOT PART OF THE STANDARD)

Cover

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 – All rights reserved
Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission.

CARICOM REGIONAL STANDARD
Specification for grades of fresh agricultural produce
Part 5: Mangoes

CRS 24: Part 5: 2010

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor, Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 – All rights reserved. No part of this publication is to be reproduced without the prior written consent of CROSQ.

ISBN 978-976-8234-07-0
ICS 67.080

Committee representation

This CARICOM Regional Standard was prepared under the supervision of the Regional Technical Committee for Agricultural Commodities (RTC 19), (hosted by the CARICOM Member State, Dominica), which at the time comprised the following members:

Contents

Foreword

This CARICOM Regional Standard was developed in an effort to:

1. avoid misunderstanding and confusion among those involved in the marketing chain;
2. provide an objective basis for relating price to quality;
3. encourage better selection, packaging and presentation of produce as a means of obtaining greater income overall; and
4. assist exporters and their countries in meeting export market requirements and thereby enhancing their reputation and market position.

This standard was approved by the Twenty-ninth Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on 8-9 February 2010.

In the development of this standard, assistance was derived from the following:

1. CODEX STAN 184-1993, CODEX Standard for Mangoes;
2. Guyana Standard, GYS 26:2005, Specification for Mangoes;
3. UNECE Standard, FFV-45 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of Mangoes, 1988, Revised 1991.

NOTE During the development of this standard, the CARICOM Regional Code of Practice for Food Hygiene was still under development.

1 Scope

This Standard specifies the quality requirements for commercial varieties of mangoes grown from Mangifera indica L., of the Anacardiaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.

This standard does not apply to mangoes for industrial processing.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this standard the following terms and definitions shall apply.

3.1
blemish

any physical injury affecting the surface of the fruit, such as scars or scratches, which detracts from its natural appearance, but will not significantly affect its shelf life

3.2
clean

free from loose or adhering soil and all foreign matter

3.3
damaged

defect or combination of defects which materially detract from the appearance or edible quality of the fruit such as bruises, cuts, insect damage, or damage caused by physiological disorder

3.4
firm

not soft or noticeably wilted and skin not swollen

3.5
free from disease

free from any visible evidence of moulds, fungal and bacterial rots, spots or any symptoms of viral infection

3.6
insect free

no signs of insects at any stage of development present on or in the fruit or in the package

3.7
lot

two or more mangoes whether or not packaged, but sold as one distinct and separate group

3.8
mature

stage of development where optimum growth characteristics of the variety are attained that will ensure the proper completion of the ripening process

3.9
properly trimmed

stalk is intact and not more than 6 mm (1/4 inch) long

3.10
similar varietal characteristics

flesh, skin and flesh colour, odour, shape and size typical of the variety

3.11
sound

produce not affected by rotting or deterioration which makes it unfit for consumption

3.12
well formed

shape is characteristic of the variety and is symmetrical without irregularities in shape

4 Requirements

4.1 Quality

4.1.1 Minimum requirements

4.1.1.1

Mangoes shall meet or exceed the following minimum requirements subject to the special provisions of 4.1.2 and 4.2:

1. intact;
2. firm;
3. fresh in appearance;
4. sound;
5. clean;
6. free from black necrotic stains or trails which extend under the skin;
7. free from marked bruising;
8. free from pests and damage caused by pests;
9. free from damage caused by low/high temperature;
10. free from abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following withdrawal from cold storage;
11. free of any foreign smell and or taste;
12. sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness;
13. a peduncle no longer than 1 cm (when present); 3
14. mature;
15. of similar maturity stages; and
16. of the same variety.

4.1.1.2

Mangoes shall be sufficiently developed, displaying satisfactory ripeness.

4.1.1.3

Mangoes shall be carefully picked at the stage of physiological development so as to enable them to:

1. ensure a continuation of the ripening process and reach the appropriate degree of ripeness corresponding to the varietal characteristics;
2. withstand transportation and handling; and
3. arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination

   NOTE In relation to the evolution of maturing, the colour may vary according to variety.

4.1.2 Classifications

Mangoes shall be classified as Classes I, II and III.

4.1.2.1 Class 1

Mangoes in this class shall meet the following requirements:

1. be of superior quality;
2. shape and colouring characteristic of the variety; and
3. free of defects, with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided these do not affect their general appearance, quality, keeping quality and presentation in the package

4.1.2.2 Class II

Mangoes in this class shall meet the following requirements:

1. be of good quality;
2. be characteristic of the variety; and
3. contain slight defects as follows, provided they do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package:
   1. slight defects in shape; and
   2. slight defects of the skin due to rubbing or sunburn, suberized stains due to resin exudation (elongated trails included) and healed bruises not exceeding 5 cm².

   NOTE Scattered rusty lenticels and a yellowing of green varieties (due to exposure to direct sunlight, not exceeding 40 % of the surface of the fruit, excluding necrotic stains) are also allowed.

4.1.2.3 Class III

Mangoes in this class satisfy the minimum requirements specified in 4.1.1. The following defects may be allowed provided the mangoes retain their essential characteristics with regards to the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

1. defects in shape; and
2. defects of skin due to rubbing or sunburn suberized stains due to resin exudation (elongated trails included) and healed bruises not exceeding 7 cm².

   NOTE Scattered rusty lenticels and a yellowing of green varieties (due to exposure to direct sunlight, not exceeding 40 % of the surface of the fruit, excluding necrotic stains) are also allowed.

4.2 Tolerances

Each class shall be allowed a degree of tolerance with respect to quality and size in each package for mangoes not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.

4.2.1 Quality tolerances

4.2.1.1 Class I

5 % by number or weight of mangoes not satisfying the requirements of this class but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.

4.2.1.2 Class II

10 % by number or weight of mangoes not satisfying the requirements of this class but meeting those of Class III or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.

4.2.1.3 Class III

10 % by number or weight of mangoes satisfying neither the requirements of this class nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of fruit affected by rotting, marked bruising or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for human consumption.

4.3 Size

Size is determined by the market requirements and should be specific to the variety.

5 Presentation

5.1 Uniformity

5.1.1

The contents of each package shall be uniform and contain only mangoes of the same origin, variety, quality and size.

5.1.2

The visible part of the contents of the package shall be representative of the entire contents.

5.2 Packaging

5.2.1

Mangoes shall be packed in such a way as to adequately protect the produce.

5.2.2

The materials used inside the package shall be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce.

NOTE 1 For the purposes of this standard, new material includes recycled material of food-grade quality.

NOTE 2 The use of materials and particularly paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.

5.2.3

Packages shall be free of all foreign matter.

5.2.4

Mangoes shall be packed in each container in compliance with the latest edition of CAC/RCP 44, Code of Practice for packaging and transport of tropical fresh fruits and vegetables.

5.3 Labelling

Each package of mangoes shall bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside:

1. identification (name and address of the Packer and or Dispatcher);
2. nature of the produce as follows:
   1. “Mangoes” if the contents are not visible from the outside; and
   2. name of the variety;
3. country of origin; and

   NOTE District where grown or national, regional or local place name is optional.

4. commercial specifications as follows:
   1. class;
   2. size expressed as minimum and maximum weight;
   3. number of fruit; and
   4. batch number.

   NOTE 1 Size code for commercial specifications is optional.

   NOTE 2 Official control mark is optional.

   NOTE 3 The use of red or orange should be avoided since these colours are used in the labelling of dangerous goods.

6 Contaminants

6.1 Heavy metals

Mangoes shall comply with those maximum levels for heavy metals established by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.

6.2 Pesticide residues

Mangoes shall comply with those maximum residue limits established by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.

7 Hygiene and sanitation

7.1

It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in conjunction with the appropriate clauses of the latest edition of the CARICOM Regional Code of Practice for Food Hygiene or other international Codes of Practice which are relevant to this commodity.

7.2

In keeping with good manufacturing practice, the product shall be free from objectionable matter.

7.3

When tested by approved methods of sampling and examination, the product shall:

1. be free from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health;
2. be free from pests which may represent a hazard to health; and
3. not contain any substance originating from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health.

7.4

Mangoes shall comply with Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary requirements of both the importing and exporting countries.

CARICOM REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR STANDARDS AND QUALITY

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) was created as an Inter-Governmental Organisation by the signing of an agreement among fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. It is the successor to the Caribbean Common Market Standards Council (CCMSC), and supports the CARICOM mandate in the expansion of intra-regional and extra-regional trade in goods and services.

CROSQ is mandated to represent the interest of the region in international and hemispheric standards work, to promote the harmonization of metrology systems and standards, and to increase the pace of development of regional standards for the sustainable production of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the enhancement of social and economic development.

CROSQ VISION:

The premier CARICOM organisation for the development and promotion of an Internationally Recognised Regional Quality Infrastructure; and for international and regional harmonized CARICOM Metrology, Standards, Inspection, Testing and Quality Infrastructure

CROSQ MISSION:

The promotion and development of standards and standards related activities to facilitate international competitiveness and the sustainable production of goods and services within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) for the enhancement of social and economic development