188
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 11

2. Notwithstanding clause 1 of these notes, it is the ultimate responsibility of the exporter to ensure that produce exported meets the requirements of the importing country and the importer.

3. In order to certify produce fit for export an inspector may require information to the effect that the property on which the fruit was produced has been cleared to pack fruit for export inspection. It is the responsibility of the exporter to obtain this information from the Senior Horticultural Inspector, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, for the district of origin. The most satisfactory way is to have the fruit inspected and passed for export in the district of origin, if at all possible.

4. To avoid delays in the entry of consignments to European markets, they should in addition to the plant health certificate, be accompanied by a control certificate which lists the details of the consignment including grade, and is signed by an authorised inspector.

Standard Grade for the Export of Cherries Notice 1977
(No. 1628 Ag. 12/2/14)

NOTICE

1. Title—(1) This notice may be cited as the Standard Grade for the Export of Cherries Notice 1977.
   (2) This notice shall come into force on the day after the date of its notification in the New Zealand Gazette.

2. Interpretation—Unless the context otherwise requires, terms and expressions used in this notice shall have the same meaning as in the New Zealand Grown Fruit and Vegetables Regulations 1975*. Certain of these terms and expressions as applicable to fruit are defined in the Schedule to this notice.

3. Application of notice—This notice determines the standard grade for the export of cherries from New Zealand.

4. Title and grade—The standard grade mark assigned to this standard grade shall be “Class I” (hereinafter referred to as “the grade”).

5. Definition of produce—This grade applies to cherries being fresh fruit grown from varieties of Prunus avium L. and Prunus cerasus L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer.

6. Quality requirements—
   (a) The fruit must be—
   (i) Intact—whole fruit;
   (ii) Fresh in appearance;
   (iii) Sound;
   (iv) Firm (appropriate to variety);
   (v) Clean;
   (vi) Free from abnormal external moisture;
   (vii) Free of foreign smell or taste; and
   (viii) With the stalk attached.
   (b) The cherries must have been carefully picked and of the same line of produce. They must have matured sufficiently to complete the ripening process, and in the opinion of an inspector, the stage of maturity must be suitable to withstand handling, storage and transport to meet the market requirements at the place of destination.
   (c) The cherries must be of good quality and have characteristics typical of the variety. They may be slightly deformed and have slight defects of colouring.
   (d) The cherries must be free of blemishes commercially regarded as defects such as hail damage, cracks, and bruises which—
   (i) May significantly impair the general appearance or keeping quality of the fruit; or
   (ii) Are likely to make the fruit unattractive to the purchaser.
   (c) The cherries must be free from pests, diseases, and contamination with toxic materials.

7. Sizing—
   (a) Sizing of cherries is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section.
   (b) The minimum size of cherries for export shall be 20 mm.

8. Packaging and presentation—
   (a) The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only cherries—
   (i) Grown in the same region;
   (ii) Of similar quality;
   (iii) Of one variety true to name; and
   (iv) Of a similar degree of maturity and colouring.
   (b) The cherries shall not be deceptively packed or stacked, and must be packed in clean new packages suitable for transport and handling so that they will not be damaged in transit. Any paper or other material used inside the package must be new and harmless to human food. When printed material is used the printing must be on the outside only so as not to come into contact with the fruit. The fruit must be free of foreign bodies such as leaves and twigs.

9. Branding requirements—Each package must bear the following particulars legibly and indelibly branded on the outside—
   (a) Identification—registered mark of grower or packing establishment and exporter’s identification;
   (b) Nature of produce—kind and variety;
   (c) Country of origin—New Zealand;
   (d) Commercial specification—grade;
   (e) Official control mark—inspection stamp or similar identification if applicable; and
   (f) Labels—if used must be of not less than 40 square centimetres.

SCHEDULE

DEFINITION OF TERMS

“Clean” means free from dirt, dust, insect stains, or other foreign substance or material;
“Count” means the number of fruit contained in any package;
“Inspector” means an inspector appointed under the Plants Act 1970;
“Mature”, in relation to fruit, means that in the opinion of an inspector the fruit will properly complete the ripening process, and is suitable for export;
“To pack” means to arrange fruit regularly and compactly in a package so that they are not loose or compressed to an extent likely to cause damage to the fruit during handling or transport;
“Sound” means free from decay, rots, overmaturity, breakdown, freezing injury, damage, and similar defects which may cause rapid loss of condition or rapid decay; and
“Storage defects” means decay, storage scald, fungal rots, wilt, or other injury to fruit as a result of storage.

Dated at Wellington this 17th day of January 1977.

M. L. CAMERON,
for Director-General of Agriculture and Fisheries.

*S.R. 1975/57

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following notes do not form part of these grade standards, but are presented for the information of growers/exporters.

1. In the opinion of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Class I will meet the minimum grade standard of all countries to which New Zealand is likely to export cherries.

2. Notwithstanding clause 1 of these notes, it is the ultimate responsibility of the exporter to ensure that produce exported meets the requirements of the importing country and the importer.

3. In order to certify produce fit for export an inspector may require information to the effect that the property on which the fruit was produced has been cleared to pack fruit for export inspection. It is the responsibility of the exporter to obtain this information from the Senior Horticultural Inspector, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, for the district of origin. The most satisfactory way is to have the fruit inspected and passed for export in the district of origin, if at all possible.

4. To avoid delays in the entry of consignments to European markets, they should in addition to the plant health certificate, be accompanied by a control certificate which lists the details of the consignment including grade, and is signed by an authorised inspector.