This standard applies to hazelnuts in shell from varieties (cultivars) grown from Corylus avellana L. and Corylus maxima Mill. and their hybrids without involucre or husk, to be supplied to the consumer, hazelnuts for industrial processing being excluded.
The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for hazelnuts in shell after preparation and packaging.
In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the hazelnuts in shell must be:
characteristics of the shell
well-formed; shell is not noticeably misshapen,
intact; a slight superficial damage is not considered as a defect,
sound; free from defects likely to affect the natural keeping quality of the fruit,
free from damage caused by pests,
clean; practically free of any visible foreign matter,
dry; free of abnormal external moisture,
free of adhering husk (not more than 5 % of individual shell surface in aggregate may have adhering husk).
characteristics of the kernel
intact; slight superficial damage is not considered as a defect,
sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,
sufficiently developed; shrunken or shrivelled fruit is to be excluded,
clean; practically free of any visible foreign matter,
free from living or dead insects whatever their stage of development,
free from damage caused by pests,
free from mould filaments visible to the naked eye,
free from rancidity,
free of abnormal external moisture,
free from foreign smell and/or taste,
free from blemishes (including the presence of black colour) or deterioration rendering them unfit for consumption(2).
Hazelnuts in shell must be harvested when fully ripe.
Hazelnuts must not be empty.
The condition of the hazelnuts must be such as to enable them:
to withstand transport and handling,
to arrive in a satisfactory condition at the place of destination.
Moisture content
Hazelnuts in shell must have a moisture content not exceeding 12 % for the whole hazelnut and 7 % for the kernel(3).
Hazelnuts in shell are classified in three classes defined below:
‘Extra’ Class
The hazelnuts in shell in this class must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type(4).
They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, its quality, keeping quality and presentation in the package.
Class I
Hazelnuts in shell in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type(5).
Slight defects may be allowed provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, its quality, keeping quality and presentation in the package.
Class II
This class includes hazelnuts in shell which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.
Defects may be allowed provided the hazelnuts in shell retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, keeping quality and presentation.
Size or screening is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section. It is expressed either by an interval determined by a maximum and a minimum size (sizing), or by mentioning the minimum size followed by the words ‘and over’, or the maximum size followed by the words ‘and less’ (screening). Sizing is compulsory for produce in Classes ‘Extra’ and ‘I’ but optional for produce in Class ‘II’.
The following classification is laid down:
| a In addition to this size table, provided that the size or screen in millimetres is also expressed in the marking, any size including larger sizes may be used with option size names. | |
| Sizing a | Screening a |
|---|---|
| 22 and above | 22 mm and above (or and less) |
| 20 to 22 mm | 20 mm and above (or and less) |
| 18 to 20 mm | 18 mm and above (or and less) |
| 16 to 18 mm | 16 mm and above (or and less) |
| 14 to 16 mm | 14 mm and above (or and less) |
| 12 to 14 mm | |
Only hazelnuts in shell with a diameter equal to or above 16 mm may be included in Class ‘Extra’, and in Class ‘I’ only those with a diameter equal to or above 14 mm. For produce presented to the final consumer under the classification ‘screened’, the size ‘and less’ is not allowed.
Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package for produce not satisfying the requirements for the class indicated.
| a In calculating these percentages, a slight deformation of the kernel is not considered to be a defect. | |||
| b An oily appearance of the flesh does not necessarily indicate a rancid condition. | |||
| c Living insects or animal pests are inadmissible in any class. | |||
| Permitted defects | Tolerances allowed(percentage of defective fruit calculated by number or weight of defective fruit) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Extra’ Class | Class I | Class II | |
a)Total tolerance allowed for defects of shell (calculated on the total in shell weight basis) | 3 | 5 | 7 |
b)Total tolerance allowed for defects of the kernel (calculated on the kernel weight basis) | 5 | 8 a | 12 a |
| of which mouldy, rotten, rancidb or damaged by insects c (calculated on the kernel weight basis) | 3 | 5 | 6 |
c)Foreign matter(calculated on the total in shell weight basis) | 0,25 | 0,25 | 0,25 |
d)Empty nuts(calculated on the count basis) | 4 | 6 | 8 |
For Extra Class and Class I, there may be a maximum of 12 % by number or weight of hazelnuts in shell belonging to different varieties or commercial types. These allowances are also applicable to Class II in case the variety or commercial type is indicated.
Ashes insoluble in acid must not exceed 1 g/kg.
For all classes, a maximum of 10 % by number or weight of hazelnuts in shell not conforming to the size indicated is tolerated provided:
the nuts correspond to the sizes immediately below or above when the size is designated by an interval determined by the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter (sizing),
the nuts correspond to the size immediately below when the size is designated by an indication of the minimum diameter followed by ‘and above’ or ‘and +’ or ‘+’ (screening),
the nuts correspond to the size immediately above when the size is designated by an indication of the maximum diameter followed by ‘and less’ or ‘and -’ (screening).
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only hazelnuts in shell of the same origin, quality, variety or commercial type and size (if sized).
The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.
[F1Notwithstanding the preceding provisions in this point, products covered by this Regulation may be mixed, in sales packages [F2of a net weight of three kilograms or less] , with different types of fresh fruit and vegetables on the conditions laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 48/2003 (6) .]
Textual Amendments
Hazelnuts in shell 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 material 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 has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.
Packages must be free of all foreign matter.
[F3Stickers individually affixed on product shall be such as, when removed, neither to leave visible traces of glue, nor to lead to skin defects.]
Textual Amendments
Hazelnuts kernels must be presented in bags or solid containers.
Each package must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside.
The name and the address of the packer and/or the dispatcher
This mention may be replaced:
for all packages with the exception of pre-packages, by the officially issued or accepted code mark representing the packer and/or the dispatcher, indicated in close connection with the reference ‘ Packer and/or Dispatcher ’ (or equivalent abbreviations);
for pre-packages only, by the name and the address of a seller established within the Community indicated in close connection with the mention ‘ Packed for: ’ or an equivalent mention. In this case, the labelling shall also include a code representing the packer and/or the dispatcher. The seller shall give all information deemed necessary by the inspection body as to the meaning of this code.]
Textual Amendments
‘hazelnuts in shell’ if the contents are not visible from the outside,
name of the variety or commercial type for classes ‘Extra’ and I (optional for Class II).
Country of origin and, optionally, area where grown, or national, regional or local designation.
class,
size expressed by:
the minimum and maximum diameters (sizing), or
the minimum diameter followed by ‘and above’ or ‘and +’ or ‘+’ or the maximum diameter followed by ‘and less’ or ‘and –’ (screening),
size name (optional),
‘Best before’ followed by the date (optional),
net weight,
crop year (optional).
[F3Packages need not to bear the particulars mentioned in the first subparagraph, when they contain sales packages, clearly visible from the outside, and all bearing these particulars. These packages shall be free from any indications such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised, the particulars shall be given on a notice placed in an obvious position on at least two sides of the pallet.]
The definition of defects is given in Appendix II to this document.
The presence of hazelnuts with a brown or dark brown heart, usually accompanied by slight separation of the cotyledons, which does not alter the odour or taste of the hazelnuts, is not considered a defect.
The moisture content is determined by one of the methods given in Appendix I to this Annex.
Commercial type: hazelnuts in each package are of the similar general type and appearance and/or belong to a mix of varieties officially defined by the producing country.
Commercial type: hazelnuts in each package are of the similar general type and appearance and/or belong to a mix of varieties officially defined by the producing country.