UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

TRADE/WP.7/2000/11/Add.7

December 2000

ORIGINAL : ENGLISH AND FRENCH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

COMMITTEE FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY AND

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

Working Party on Standardization of

Perishable Produce and Quality Development

Fifty-sixth session, Geneva, 6 to 8 November 2000

REPORT OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION

Addendum 7

Note by the secretariat

This document contains the revised UN/ECE Standard for Melons (FFV-23), as adopted by the Working Party.

GE.00-

UN/ECE STANDARD FFV-23

concerning the marketing and commercial

quality control of

MELONS

moving in international trade between and to

UN/ECE member countries

I.	DEFINITION OF PRODUCE

This standard applies to melons of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cucumis melo L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, melons for industrial processing being excluded.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of melons 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 melons must be:

-	intact1

-	sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded

-	clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter

-	fresh in appearance

-	practically free from pests

-	practically free from damage caused by pests

-	firm

-	free of abnormal external moisture

-	free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

The melons must be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness2. The development and condition of the melons 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

Melons are classified in two classes defined below:

(i)	Class I

Melons in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type.

The following slight defects, however, may be allowed provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the keeping quality and presentation in the package:

-	a slight defect in shape

-	a slight defect in colouring (a pale colouring of the rind at the point where the fruit touched the ground while growing is not regarded as a defect)

-	slight skin blemishes due to rubbing or handling

-	slight healed cracks around the peduncle of less than 2 cm in length that do not reach the pulp.

The length of the peduncle, in the case of fruit belonging to varieties that do not separate at the time of ripening, may not exceed 2 cm, but must in any case be present and intact.

(ii)	Class II

This class includes melons which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

The following defects may be allowed provided the melons retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

-	defects in shape

-	defects in colouring (a pale colouring of the rind at the point where the fruit touched the ground while growing is not regarded as a defect)

-	slight bruising

-	slight cracks or deep scratches that do not affect the pulp of the fruit and are dry

-	skin blemishes due to rubbing or handling.

III.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING

Size is determined by the weight of one unit or by the diameter of the equatorial section.

The minimum sizes are as follows:

Sizing by weight:

-	Charentais, Galia and Ogen type melons	250 g

-	other melons	300 g

Sizing by diameter:

-	Charentais, Galia and Ogen type melons	7.5 cm

-	other melons	8.0 cm

When the size is expressed in terms of weight, the largest melon may not weigh over 50 per cent (30 per cent for the Charentais type melons) more than the smallest.

When the size is expressed in terms of diameter, the diameter of the largest melon may not be over 20 per cent (10 per cent for Charentais type melons) more than the diameter of the smallest.

Sizing is compulsory for both classes.

IV.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES

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 melons 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 melons satisfying neither the requirements of the class, nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.

B.	Size tolerances

For all classes: 10 per cent by number or weight of melons whose size is greater or less than that specified.

V.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION

A.	Uniformity

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only melons of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size, and which have reached appreciably the same degree of development and ripeness and are of appreciably the same colour.

The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.

B.	Packaging

Melons 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 is done with non-toxic ink or glue.

Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

VI.	PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING

Each package3 must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside:

A.	Identification

Packer	)	Name and address or

and/or	)	officially issued or

Dispatcher	)	accepted code mark. 4

B.	Nature of produce

-	"Melons" if the contents are not visible from the outside

-	Name of the variety or commercial type (e.g. Charentais).

C.	Origin of produce

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

D.	Commercial specifications

-	Class

-	Size expressed in minimum and maximum weight or minimum and maximum diameter

-	Number of units (optional).

E.	Official control mark (optional)

Published 1975

Revised 1992

Last revised 1998, 2000