Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B7: Product quality, safety or performance requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

29 August 2015 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Gazette No. 37949, 29 August 2014 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Regulations Relating To The Quality, Packing And Marking Of Dried Fruit Intended For Sale In The Republic Of South Africa 

Country/Region applying the measure

South Africa 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

Quality Standards
35. (1) Choice Grade vine fruit shall -
(a) have a good and fleshy texture;
(b) have a uniform colour when examining a single container with dried vine fruit; and
(c) be of uniform size.
(2) Standard Grade vine fruit shall -
(a) have at least reasonably good and fleshy texture;
(b) have at least a reasonably uniform colour: Provided that the dried fruit shall not appear conspicuously variegated when examining a single container with raisins; and
(c) be of fairly uniform size.
(3) Moisture content:
(a) Raisins shall contain not more than 17% moisture.
(4) Standards for sizes:
(a) Sizing is determined by the minimum diameter of berries based on screening.
(b) The size of small, bold and jumbo raisins/sultanas shall be marked on nontransparent containers: Provided that acceptable abbreviations shall be used to indicate the size group.
(c) The sizing for Golden Sultanas, O.R. Sultanas, Thompson's Seedless raisins and W.P. Sultanas are as follows:(see Table on page 28 of the Regulations)
(5) The following quality factors are subject to the tolerances for each vine fruit and grade:
(a) Colour.
(b) Texture.
(c) Blemishes.
(d) Crystallised berries.
(e) Berry stems (Cap stems).
(f) Damaged berries.
(g) Berry stalks.
(h) Extraneous vegetable material.
(i) Floaters.
36. (1) Currants shall -
(a) be prepared from small, seedless, unlyed currant cultivars: Provided that SubStandard Grade may contain pinhead currants;
(b) consist of whole berries;
(c) be brown to dark brown in colour and free from white currants; and
(d) have a typical, good flavour: Provided that Standard Grade berries shall have a reasonably good and typical flavour.
(2) Tolerances: (see Table on page 28 of the Regulations)
Depipped Raisins - Lyed and Unlyed
37. (1) Depipped raisins shall -
(a) be prepared from suitable seeded grape cultivars;
(b) have a light brown to brown colour: Provided that lyed raisins shall have a greenish colour and unlyed raisins shall have a bluish colour: Provided further that Standard Grade raisins shall have a slightly darker to dark brown colour;
(c) be free from blackened berries; and
(d) not pass through a sieve of 10 mm mesh in the case of Choice Grade.
(2) Depipped raisins shall be marked with the expression "depipped" or "seeded".
(3) Tolerances: (see Table on page 29 of the Regulations)
38. (1) Loose raisins shall -
(a) be prepared from suitable, seeded grape cultivars;
(b) be light brown to brown. Muscatel raisins shall be dark bluish, Standard Grade shall be dark brown;
(c) be free from blackened berries;
(d) have a rich flavour for Choice Grade loose raisins, Standard Grade and SubStandard Grade raisins shall have a reasonably good flavour; and
(e) not pass through a sieve of 12 mm, for Choice Grade raisins.
(2) Depipped raisins shall be marked with the expression "depipped" or "seeded".
(3) Seed-bearing raisins shall be marked with the expression "with seeds" or "with pips".
(4) Tolerances:(see Table on page 29 of the Regulations)
Monucca Raisins
39. (1) Monucca raisins shall -
(a) be prepared from black Monucca grapes; and
(b) be reddish in case of bleached raisins and dark brown to black in case of unbleached raisins.
(2) Tolerances:(see Table on page 29 of the Regulations)
Stalk Raisins
40. (1) Stalk raisins shall -
(a) be prepared from whole Hanepoot, Datal or Waltham Cross grapes which are still attached to the stalks and of which all immature berries have been removed;
(b) be free from stickiness;
(c) consist of berries with stems of a reasonable length;
(d) have a light brown to medium brown colour: Provided that Muscatel raisins shall be dark bluish in colour: Provided further that Standard Grade raisins shall have a light brown to brown colour;
(e) be appealing: Provided that Standard Grade raisins shall be reasonably appealing; and
(f) have a rich flavour: Provided that Standard Grade and SubStandard Grade raisins shall have a good flavour.
(2) Provisions concerning sizing:
(a) Choice Grade:
(i) 90% of the berries shall not pass through a sieve of 13,5 mm mesh and the remainder shall not pass through a sieve of 10,5 mm mesh.
(b) Standard Grade:
(i) 65% of the berries shall not pass through a sieve of 13,5 mm mesh and the remainder shall not pass through a sieve of 10,5 mm mesh.
(3) Seed-bearing raisins shall be marked with the expression "with seeds" or "with pips".
(4) Tolerances:(see Table on page 31 of the Regulations)
Golden Sultanas
41. (1) Golden Sultanas shall -
(a) be prepared from whole, lyed and bleached seedless grapes; and
(b) have a light gold to golden colour for Choice Grade and shall be greenish gold to dark gold for Standard Grade.
(2) Golden sultanas shall be marked with the expression "Golden Sultanas" or "Bleached Sultanas" or "Sultanas".
(3) Tolerances: (see Table on page 31 of the Regulations)
O.R. Sultanas
42. (1) O.R. sultanas shall -
(a) be prepared from whole, lyed seedless grapes; and
(b) have a greenish to golden amber colour: Provided that Standard Grade shall be green to dark amber in colour.
(2) O.R. sultanas shall be marked with the expression "O.R." or "O.R. Sultanas" or "Sultanas".
(3) Tolerances:(see Table on page 32 of the Regulations)
Thompson Seedless Raisins
43. (1) Thompson's seedless raisins shall -
(a) be prepared from whole, unlyed seedless grapes;
(b) have a brown to dark brown colour; and
(c) be free from blackened berries.
(2) Thompson's seedless raisins shall be marked the expression "seedless raisins" or "Thompson raisins" or "Thompson".
(3) Tolerances:(see Table on page 33 of the Regulations)
W.P. Sultanas
44. (1) W.P. Sultanas shall -
(a) be prepared from whole lyed seedless grapes; and
(b) have a light brown to brown colour: Provided Standard Grade berries shall be dark brown in colour.
(2) Tolerances: (see Table on page 33 of the Regulations) 

Reference of the measure

Regulations 35-44 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Dried vine fruit made from seedless kinds of grapes, treated with cold lye and dried in the shade; 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries