Quality

Quality classification standard for cleaned buckthorn berries

I DEFINITION OF PRODUCT
This classification standard applies to fresh or frozen cleaned wild Buckthorn berries (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.)

II QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements and quality classification for Buckthorn berries 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.

Buckthorn berries 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: berries adhering to one another are not acceptable.
be of good visual quality

Buckthorn berries must not:

have foreign taste or smell
have insect or pest damage
contain more than 10% by weight of defective berries: Unripe or over ripe, defective in colour (brown or grey), shriveled, damaged by frost or for any other reason, other edible berries
contain not more than 60 particles/kg of impurites: leaves, stems or other harmless foreign matter.

B. Classification
Buckthorn berries are classified in three quality classes:

Extra Class
Buckthorn berries in this class must be:

of superior quality, fully developed
of uniform colour - yellow or orange/red
of uniform size
of excellent typical Buckthorn berry flavour

Class I
Buckthorn berries in this class must be:

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

Class II
Buckthorn berries in this class must be:

reasonably well developed
of typical Buckthorn berry colour
of typical Buckthorn berry 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 Buckthorn berries should not be more than 2% by weight
practically free from foreign matter or stems

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 30 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
proportion of defective berries should not be more than 8% by weight
not more than 50 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 Extra Class the contents of each package must be unifom in size and ripeness. The visible part of the contents of the package must represent the entirety.

B. Packaging
Buckthorn berries 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