UN/ECE STANDARD H-8

concerning the marketing and commercial

quality control of fresh cut

STRELITZIAS

moving in international trade between and to

UN/ECE member countries

I.	DEFINITION OF PRODUCE AND SCOPE

This standard applies to fresh cut flowers of varieties (cultivars) of Strelitzia reginae, suitable for ornamental purposes, as well as the leaves which may accompany them.

II.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of fresh cut strelitzia flowers and, where appropriate, leaves at the despatching stage, after preparation and packaging.

A.	Minimum requirements

The produce must have been carefully harvested and have reached an appropriate stage of growth.

In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the flower heads must be:

-	fresh (i.e., no part of the flower may be withered, particularly at the tip of the spathe)

-	free from parasites of animal origin; and

-	in good condition and have at least one flower open, the blue petal being visible, and the minimum length of the spathe (measured from base to tip, excluding the thickness of the stem) being 15 cm.

In the event of several normally developed spathes, only the inflorescence of the main spathe shall be taken into consideration.

The stem must be straight and must form with the flower spathe an angle of between 90 and 130 . This angle may not vary by more than 20 in the same unit of presentation.

When there are leaves accompanying the flowers, they must be:

-	healthy and fresh

-	whole, although the withered tip of the leaves may be removed; and

-	green, although the tip may be withered if it has not been removed.

The development and condition of the produce must be such as to enable them to withstand transport and handling and ensure that it reaches its place of destination in a satisfactory condition.

B.	Classification

Strelitzia flower heads are classified in the three classes defined below:

(i)	Extra class

The flower heads in this class must be of superior quality. They must have the characteristics of the species and of the variety (cultivar).

They must be:

-	unbruised

-	free from development defects

-	free from visible extraneous matter affecting their appearance; and

-	free from damage caused by insects or parasites of vegetable origin.

The flowers must be well developed and of uniform shape and colour. The colours of all parts of the inflorescence must be bright and pure.

The stem must be straight and strong enough to support the spathe and the flowers.

When there are leaves accompanying the flowers, there must be at least five leaves of uniform shape and size for every 10 flower heads.

(ii)	Class I

The flower heads in this class must be of good quality. They must have the characteristics of the species and of the variety (cultivar).

They must be:

-	unbruised;

-	practically free from development defects;

-	practically free from insects or parasites of vegetable origin.

The flowers must be sufficiently developed and of uniform shape. A slight variation in colour is permitted.

The stem must be straight and strong enough to support the spathe and the flowers.

When there are leaves accompanying the flowers, there must be at least four leaves for every 10 flower heads.

(iii)	Class II

This class comprises flower heads which do not meet the requirements of the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

The flower heads and leaves may have the following defects:

-	slight damage caused by parasites of animal or vegetable origin

-	slight visible traces of extraneous matter

-	slight bruising

-	slight malformation.

The defects permitted must not impair the keeping quality, appearance or utility of the produce.

The stems may be less rigid and less strong and they need not be straight; in that case, the flower heads with curved stems must be presented in separate, uniform units.

When there are leaves accompanying the flowers, there must be at least three leaves for every 10 flower heads.

III.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING

The flower heads and, where appropriate, the leaves must be at least 60 and 50 cm long, respectively, and the length of the leaves must be commensurate with the length of the stem.

These lengths are measured from the base to the tip of the flower head or leaf.

IV.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES

The following tolerances in respect of quality and size are allowed for produce not satisfying the requirements in each unit of presentation (bunch, box and the like).

A.	Quality tolerances *

(i)	Extra class

Three per cent of the flower heads and, where appropriate, leaves, by number not meeting the requirements of this class but meeting those of Class I.

(ii)	Class I

Five per cent of the flower and, where appropriate leaves, by number not meeting the requirements of this class but meeting those of Class II.

(iii)	Class II

Ten per cent of the flower heads and, where appropriate leaves, by number, not meeting the requirements of this class or the minimum requirements, but free from:

-	decay

-	pronounced bruising; and

-	withered or malformed flowers.

In no case must these defects impair the utility of the produce.

B.	Size tolerances *

The following length tolerances are allowed, in all classes:

-	ten per cent of the flower heads or, where appropriate, leaves not meeting the minimum length requirements.

V.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION

A.	Uniformity

Each unit of presentation (bunch, box and the like) must contain flower heads and, where appropriate, leaves of the same quality class, having reached a uniform stage of development and, in the Extra class and in Class I, having spathes of uniform length, the maximum variation permissible between the longest spathe and the shortest spathe being 3 cm.

B.	Packaging

The produce must be packed in such a way to be properly protected.

The materials, and particularly the paper used in direct contact with the flower heads and leaves, must be new and clean. If the materials or papers bear printed information, it must appear only on the outside, so as not to come into direct contact with the produce.

C.	Presentation

A unit of presentation (bunch, box and the like) must contain 5, 10, 15 or a multiple of 10 flower heads and, when there are leaves accompanying them, at least the corresponding number of leaves stipulated for each class. However, this does not apply to flowers for which the buyer and seller agree expressly to depart from the provisions concerning the number of flowers in a unit for presentation.

VI.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING

(i)	The following particulars must accompany the goods either in the form of a label on the package or in the form of an invoice easily accessible to the control service.

A.	Identification

Packer	)	Name and address or

and/or	)	officially issued or accepted

Dispatcher	)	code mark.

B.	Nature of produce

-	genus

-	variety (cultivar) for the Extra class and Class I; and

-	colour (optional).

C.	Origin of produce

-	Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national, regional or local place name.

D.	Commercial Specifications

-	class

-	size (code) or minimum lengths; and

-	number of flower heads or number of branches and number of flower heads per bunch.

E.	Official control mark (optional)