Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking (Amendment) Rules, 2024

CG-HR-E-07082024-256135 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) 4884 GI/2024 (1) MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) NOTIFICATION New Delhi the 5th August, 2024 G.S.R. 480(E).—Whereas, the draft rules further to amend the Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking Rules, 2004, were published, as required under section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (1 of 1937), vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare notification number G.S.R. 99(E), dated the 5th February, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby within forty-five days from the date on which copies of the said notification published in the Gazette of India, were made available to the public; And whereas, copies of the said notification were made available to the public on 5th February, 2024; And whereas, the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft rules have been duly considered by the Government; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (1 of 1937), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, further to amend the Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking Rules, 2004, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.-(1) These rules may be called the Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking (Amendment) Rules, 2024. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Gazette of India. 2. In the Fruits and Vegetables Grading and Marking Rules, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules) for rule 8, the following rule shall be substituted, namely:- “8 (1) The fruits and vegetables for domestic trade, shall comply with the restrictions in regard to residual levels of metal contaminants, pesticide residues, microbial requirements, crop contaminants, naturally occurring toxic substances and other food safety requirements as specified under the regulations made under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006). (2) The fruits and vegetables for export trade, shall comply with the residual limits of heavy metals, pesticides and other food safety requirements as laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission or importing countries requirement for export.” 3. In the said rules, for Schedule-II, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:– “SCHEDULE–II (see rule 4 of principal rules) Grade designation and quality of Table Grapes 1. Table grapes shall be fruits obtained from varieties (cultivars) of Vitis vinifera L. which are intended for direct human consumption. 2. Minimum requirements:- (i) Bunches and berries of Table grapes shall be: (a) clean, sound, free from any visible foreign matter; (b) free from pests, affecting the general appearance of the produce; (c) free from damage caused by pests or diseases; (d) free from abnormal external moisture; (e) free from any foreign smell or taste; (f) free from all visible traces of moulds; (g) free from damage caused by high or low temperature. (ii) Berries shall be intact, well formed and normally developed. (iii) Table grapes shall have minimum soluble solids of sixteen degrees brix. (iv) Table grapes shall have minimum sugar-acid ratio of 18:1. 3. Criteria for grade designation of Table grapes: The criteria for grade designation is given hereunder in Table A and the provision concerning size are given in Table B: TABLE A | Grade designation | Grade requirements | Provision concerning sizing | Grade tolerances | |---|---|---|---| | (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | | Extra class | (i) Grapes must be of superior quality and the bunches must be typical of variety in shape, development and coloring and have no defects. (ii) Berries must be firm, firmly attached to the stalk, evenly spaced along the stalk and have their bloom virtually intact. | As per Table B | 5% by weight of bunches not satisfying the requirements for the grade, but meeting those of Class I grade or exceptionally coming within the tolerances of that grade. | | Class I | (i) Grapes must be of good quality and the bunches must be typical of variety in shape, development and coloring. (ii) Berries must be firm, firmly attached to the stalk and, as far as possible, have their bloom intact. (iii) They may, however, be less evenly spaced along the stalk than in the extra class. | - do - | 10% by weight of bunches not satisfying the requirements for the grade, but meeting those of Class II grade or exceptionally coming within the tolerances of that grade. | | | (iv) Following slight defects may be there, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce and keeping quality of the package: (a) a slight defect in shape, (b) a slight defect in coloring | | | |---|---|---|---| | Class II | (i) The bunches may show defects in shape, development and coloring provided these do not impair the essential characteristics of the variety. (ii) The berries must be sufficiently firm and sufficiently attached to the stalk. (iii) They may be less evenly spaced along the stalk than Class I grade. (iv) Following defects may be there, provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce and keeping quality of the package: (a) defects in shape, (b) defects in coloring, (c) slight sun scorch affecting the skin only, (d) slight bruising, (e) slight skin defects | - do - | 10% by weight of bunches and satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting the minimum requirements. | TABLE B PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING Size is determined by the weight of bunches (in gram) and the following minimum (in gram) requirements as per bunch are laid down:- | Grade | Large berries | Small berries | |---|---|---| | Extra class | 200 | 150 | | Class I | 150 | 100 | | Class II | 100 | 75 | Size tolerance: (i) Extra class, Class I, Class II: 10 % by weight of bunches not satisfying the size requirements for the grade, but meeting the size requirements for the grade immediately below. (ii) For packages not exceeding one kilogram net weight, one bunch weighing less than 150 gram is allowed to adjust the weight, provided, the bunch meets all other requirements of the specified grade. Explanation for the purpose of both the tables: Pigmentation caused by the sun shall not be treated as a defect. 4. Other requirements:- (i) The grapes must have been carefully picked and have reached an appropriate degree of development and ripeness in accordance with criteria proper to the variety or commercial type and to the area in which they are grown and the development and condition of the grapes must be such as to enable them; (a) to withstand transport and handling; and (b) to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination. (ii) The consumer packages of net weight not exceeding one kilogram may contain mixture of table grapes of different varieties, provided they shall meet all other requirements of the specified grade.” [F. No. Q-11047/05/F&V/2023-Std)] FAIZ AHMED KIDWAI, Addl. Secy. (Marketing) Note.-The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India Part-II, Section-3, Sub-section (i) vide notification GSR 220, dated 26th June, 2004 and were last amended vide notification G.S.R. 1059(E), dated 10th November, 2016. and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. SARVESH KUMAR SRIVASTAVA SRIVASTAVA Date: 2024.08.07 22:17:39 +05'30'