Quality

Quality classification standard for cleaned bilberries

I DEFINITION OF PRODUCT
This classification standard applies to fresh or frozen cleaned wild Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.)

II QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements and quality classification for Bilberries at delivery or after cleaning and freezing.

A. Minimum requirements
Applied to all classes and in addition to the quality tolerance and specific requirements of each class.

Bilberries must:

be whole and firm
be fresh in appearance
be sound: berries which are spoiled or inedible due to due to fermentation or for other reasons are not acceptable
be clean: berries should be free from foreign matter or abnormal external moisture
be loose: clusters or berries adhering to one another are not acceptable
be of good visual quality

Bilberries must not:

have foreign taste or smell
have marks associated with plant diseases
have insect or pest damage
contain for than 10% by weight of defective berries: Unripe or over ripe, black or brown, shriveled, crushed, or damaged in any other way, other edible berries
contain not more than 30 particles/kg of impurites: leaves, stems or other harmless foreign matter.

B. Classification
Bilberries are classified in three quality classes:

Extra class
Bilberries in this class must be:

of superior quality, well developed
of typical dark colour, uniform in colour, covered in waxy bloom
uniform in size
of excellent typical Bilberry flavour

Class I
Bilberries in this class must be:

of good quality, reasonably well developed
well coloured
reasonably uniform in size
of good typical Bilberry flavour

Class II
Bilberries in this class must be:

reasonably well developed
of typical Bilberry colour
of typical satisfactory Bilberry flavour

III QUALITY TOLERANCE
Berries not meeting the requirements of each class are allowed according to the following quantities and conditions per shipment.

Extra class

a maximum of 5% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the standard of Class I
the proportion of defective berries should not be more than 2% by weight
practically free of foreign matter

Class I

a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the standard of Class II
the proportion of defective berries should not be more than 5% by weight
not more than 10 particles/kg of foreign matter is allowable

Class II

a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable, providing they meet the minimum standard
the proportion of defective berries should not be more than 8% by weight
not more than 20 particles/kg of foreign matter is allowable

IV PACKING

A. Uniformity of quality
The contents of every package must be uniform. Packages must contain berries of the same origin and quality. In the Extra class the contents of each package must be uniform in size and degree of ripeness. The visible part of the contents of the package must represent the entirety.

B. Packaging
Bilberries must be packaged in such a way that the produce is well protected. Materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of such quality that they do not cause any internal or external damage to the product. Non toxic inks and glues must be used on packaging. Packages must not contain foreign matter or objects.

V MARKINGS
Each package must have the following markings on the same side of the package, clearly and permanently written. Markings must be visible on the outer surface.

Name of the product, if it is not visible from the outside
Quality class
Name and address of manufacturer, packer or seller
Origin: county or area, country or district where it is grown, a regional or local place name is also recommended.
Net weight

Quality classification standard for uncleaned bilberries

I DEFINITION OF PRODUCT
This classification standard applies to fresh or frozen uncleaned wild Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.)

II QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements and classifications of Bilberries at delivery.

A. Minimum requirements
Applied to all classes and in addition to the quality tolerance and specific requirements of each class.

Bilberries must:

be whole and firm
be fresh in apperance
be sound: berries which are spoiled or inedible due to due to fermentation or for other reasons are not acceptable
be clean: berries should be free from foreign matter or abnormal external moisture
be of good visual quality

Bilberries must not:

have foreign taste or smell
have marks associated with plant diseases
have insect or pest damage
contain more than 10% by weight of defective berries: Unripe or over ripe, black or brown, shriveled, crushed, or damaged in any other way, other edible berries
contain not more than 4% by weight of impurites: leaves, stems or other harmless foreign matter

B. Classification
Bilberries are classified in two quality classes

Class I
Bilberries in this class must be:

well developed
of typical dark colour, uniform in colour, covered in waxy bloom
uniform in size
of good typical Bilberry flavour

Class II
Bilberries in this class must be:

reasonably well developed
of a satisfactory colour
of typical Bilberry flavour

III QUALITY TOLERANCE
Berries not meeting the requirements of each are allowed according to the following quantities and conditions per shipment.

Class I
a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class are allowable providing they meet the standard of class II.
the proportion of defective Bilberries should not more be than 3% by weight.
not more than 2% by weight of foreign matter is allowable.

Class II
a maximum of 10% by weight of berries not meeting the requirements of this class is allowable, providing they meet minimum standards.
the proportion of defective Bilberries should not be more than 7% by weight
not more than 3% by weight of foreign matter is allowable.

IV PACKING

A. Uniformity of quality
The contents of every package must be uniform. Packages must contain berries of the same origin and quality. The visible part of the contents of the package must represent the entirety.

B. Packaging
Bilberries must be packaged in such a way that the produce is well protected. Materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of such quality that they do not cause any internal or external damage to the product. Non toxic inks and glues must be used on packaging. Packages must not contain foreign matter or objects.

V MARKINGS
Each package must have the following markings on the same side of the package, clearly and permanently written. Markings must be visible on the outer surface.

Name of the product, if it is not visible from the outside
Quality class
Name and address of manufacturer, packer or seller
Origin: county or area, country or district where it is grown, a regional or local place name is also recommended.
Net weight