What are the quality requirements for fresh apples in Vietnam?

Hello, Lawnet would like to answer as follows:

What are the quality requirements for fresh apples in Vietnam?

According to the regulations in TCVN 10395:2014, the quality requirements for fresh apples are defined as follows:

- Minimum requirements for fresh apples:

+ Depending on specific requirements for each grade and allowable deviations, all grades of fresh apples must:

+ Be intact, with or without stems, as long as the broken stem area is clean and the adjacent skin is not damaged;

+ Be sound, not crushed or damaged to an extent unsuitable for use;

+ Be firm;

+ Be clean, with hardly any visible foreign matter;

+ Hardly contain any insects that affect the appearance of the product;

+ Not have abnormal moisture outside the skin, unless there is condensation due to being taken out of cold storage;

+ Not have any strange odor and/or taste;

+ Not be damaged by low and/or high temperatures;

+ Hardly show signs of water loss.

+ The degree of development and condition of the apples must:

++ Withstand transportation and unloading;

++ Arrive at the place of consumption in good condition.

+ Fresh apples must have the characteristic color of the variety and growing region.

- Requirements for ripeness of fresh apples:

+ Fresh apples at the stage of development must ensure continued ripening to reach the required level of ripeness, corresponding to the variety's characteristics.

+ To determine the minimum ripeness, several parameters can be considered, such as fruit shape, hardness, and refractive index.

- Grading of fresh apples:

Fresh apples are divided into three grades as follows:

+ "Special" grade: Apples in this grade must have the highest quality. The flesh of the fruit must be sound. They must have the characteristic of the variety. No defects are allowed, except for very minor defects that do not affect the appearance, quality, maintenance of quality, and presentation of the product in packaging.

+ Grade I: Apples in this grade must have good quality. The flesh of the fruit must be sound. They must have the characteristic of the variety. Minor defects are allowed as long as they do not affect the appearance, quality, maintenance of quality, and presentation of the product in packaging:

++ Minor defects in fruit shape and development;

++ Minor defects in color;

++ Minor defects on the skin or other defects (Details in Appendix A of TCVN 10395:2014).

+ Grade II: Apples in this grade do not meet the requirements of higher grades but must meet the minimum requirements mentioned above. Fresh apples with the following defects may be allowed, provided that the quality characteristics, maintenance of quality, and presentation of the product are still ensured:

++ Defects in shape and development;

++ Defects in color;

++ Defects on the skin or other defects (Details in Appendix A of TCVN 10395:2014).

- Color of fresh apples:

In all grades, the following color codes may be applied, except for green and yellow apple varieties:

2. Requirements for uniformity of fresh apples in Vietnam

According to TCVN 10395:2014, the quantity of fresh apples contained in each packaging must be uniform and consist only of apples with the same origin, quality, size (if classified by size), and variety.

For the "Special" grade, the color must be uniform. Retail packaging (with a net weight not exceeding 5 kg) may include a mixture of varieties and sizes as long as they are uniform in quality and each type has the same origin and variety. The visible portion of the fruit on the packaging must represent the entire fruit inside the packaging, except for size and variety.

The uniformity of fresh apples must meet one of the following options:

- By diameter:

The maximum diameter difference between fresh apples in the same packaging must be limited to:

+ 5 mm if the diameter of the smallest fruit is less than 80 mm;

+ 12 mm if the diameter of the smallest fruit is equal to or larger than 80 mm.

- By weight:

The maximum weight difference between fruits in the same packaging must be limited to:

+ 15 g if the weight of the smallest fruit is 90 g;

+ 20 g if the weight of the smallest fruit is equal to or larger than 90 g but less than 135 g;

+ 30 g if the weight of the smallest fruit is equal to or larger than 135 g but less than 200 g;

+ 40 g if the weight of the smallest fruit is equal to or larger than 200 g but less than 300 g;

+ 50 g if the weight of the smallest fruit is above 300 g.

- For packaging used for retail or loose packaging, there are no requirements for uniformity in size for fresh apples.

*Note: The above standards do not apply to fresh apples used in industrial processing.

Best regards!

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