This standard applies to chinese cabbages of varieties (cultivars) grown from Brassica pekinensis Rupr. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, chinese cabbages for industrial processing being excluded.
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of chinese cabbages of the long type and the round type at the export control stage after preparation and packaging.
A. Minimum requirements
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the chinese cabbages must be:
- intact; however some of the outer leaves may be removed and for the long type the ends of leaves may be cut, provided that the heads are wrapped
- sound, produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded
- clean and trimmed, i.e. practically free of all earth-soiled leaves, and practically free from any visible foreign matter
- fresh in appearance
- 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.
The butt should be cut slightly below the lowest point of leaf growth, but the leaves should remain firmly attached. The cut should be clean.
A slight colouration of the vascular bundles of the cut surface due to storage is admitted.
The development and condition of the chinese cabbages must be such as to enable them:
- to withstand transport and handling, and
- to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.
B. Classification
Chinese cabbages of the long type and the round type are classified into two classes defined below:
(i) Class I
Chinese cabbages in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type.
They must be:
- well formed
- compact, the leaves must be closely attached according to the variety - free from damage due to frost
- practically free of physical injury; small cracks in the outer leaves are allowed, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package.
The total length of the floral stem should not exceed one-third of the length of the packed head.
(ii) Class II
This class includes chinese cabbages which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.
The following defects may be allowed provided the chinese cabbages retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:
- defects in shape
- defects in colouring
- reasonably compact heads, the leaves may be less closely attached
- slight damage due to frost
- slight bruising of and cracks in the outer leaves
- traces of internal necrosis.
The total length of the floral stem should not exceed one-half of the length of the packed head.
Size is determined by the weight of head.
For chinese cabbages, regardless of their shape classified in Classes I and II, the minimum weight per head must be 350 g.
For chinese cabbages classified in Class I and in each package, the heaviest head must not be more than 1.5 times the weight of the lightest head.
For chinese cabbages classified in Class II and in each package the heaviest head must not be more than twice the weight of the lightest head.
Tolerances 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 I
10 per cent by number or weight of heads not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class.
(ii) Class II
10 per cent by number or weight of heads satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering them unfit for consumption.
B. Size Tolerances
For all classes: 10 per cent by number or weight of heads not satisfying the requirements as regards:
- uniformity
- minimum weight, however, no head may weigh less than 250 g1.
1The Federal Republic of Germany has proposed a minimum weight of 300 g.
A. Uniformity
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only chinese cabbages of the same origin, variety, quality and size.
Chinese cabbages of Class I must be nearly the same colour.
When the long types of chinese cabbages are presented with cut leaves the packages must contain only trimmed cabbages.
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.
B. Packaging
Chinese cabbages must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce 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 of 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, such as loose leaves and/or parts of stalk.
Each package2 must bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside.
2Package units of produce prepacked for direct sale to the consumer shall not be subject to these marking provisions but shall conform to the national requirements. However, the markings referred to shall in any event be shown on the transport packaging containing such package units.
A. Identification
Packer |
) |
Name and address or |
and/or |
) |
officially issued or |
Dispatcher |
) |
accepted code mark.3 |
3The national legislation of a number of countries requires the explicit declaration of the name and address. However, in the case where a code mark is used, the reference “packer and/or dispatcher (or equivalent abbreviations)” has to be indicated in close connection with the code mark.
B. Nature of produce
- “Chinese Cabbages” if the contents are not visible from the outside.
C. Origin of produce
- Country of origin and optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.
D. Commercial specifications
- Class
- Size indicated by the weight of the lightest head
- Number of heads or weight.
E. Official control mark (optional)
Published 1991
