Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983

 

Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983

CONTENTS

1.Citation1

2.Commencement1

3.Application1

4.Interpretation1

5.Grades of quality2

6.Compliance with standard2

7.Standard of Grade I onions2

8.Standard of Grade II onions2

9.Standard of Large grade onions3

10.Standard of pickler grade onions3

11.Standard of spring onions3

12.Standard of bunched onions3

13.Sizes4

14.Packages for onions4

15.Packing and marking packages4

NOTES

 

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ACT 1929

Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983

Made by the Minister for Agriculture.

1.Citation

This Code may be cited as the Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983.

2.Commencement

This Code shall come into operation on 1 October 1983.

3.Application

(1)This Code is, subject to subclauses (2) and (3) of this clause, the relevant code under the Agricultural Products Act 1929 for the grading, marking and packing of onions for sale.

(2)Clauses 14 and 15 of this Code do not apply to a retail sale.

(3)This Code does not apply where onions are sold or intended to be sold for the purpose of manufacturing, processing or packing.

4.Interpretation

In this Code, unless the contrary intention appears — 

“doubles” means onions which have more than one distinct bulb visible externally;

“peelers” means onions which have part of the papery skin missing, exposing edible flesh.

5.Grades of quality

Onions shall be graded according to their quality and site as Grade I, Grade II, Large, picklers, spring onions and bunched onions.

6.Compliance with standard

Onions contained in any one package shall be deemed to comply with the standard of a grade if at least 95% by weight thereof comply with that standard.

7.Standard of Grade I onions

Onions graded as Grade I shall comprise only onions which are — 

(a)sound and of similar varietal characteristics;

(b)free from doubles, peelers, root growths and sprouts;

(c)free from dirt or other foreign matter; and

(d)free from blemishes caused by disease, insect injury, sunburn or mechanical damage.

8.Standard of Grade II onions

Onions graded as Grade II — 

(a)may include onions which are peelers or doubles and onions with slight blemishes which can be removed by the ordinary process of peeling without appreciable waste over that which would occur if the onions were perfect; and

(b)shall comprise only onions which are — 

(i)of similar varietal characteristics; and

(ii)free from wet or dry rots, dirt or other foreign matter.

9.Standard of Large grade onions

Onions graded as Large shall comprise only onions which are — 

(a)sound and of similar varietal characteristics;

(b)free from doubles, peelers, root growths and sprouts;

(c)free from dirt or other foreign matter;

(d)free from blemishes caused by disease, insect injury, sunburn or mechanical damage; and

(e)more than 75 millimetres in diameter.

10.Standard of pickler grade onions

Onions graded as pickler grade shall comprise only onions which are — 

(a)sound and of similar varietal characteristics;

(b)free from doubles, peelers, root growths and sprouts;

(c)free from dirt or other foreign matter; and

(d)free from blemishes caused by disease, insect injury, sunburn or mechanical damage.

11.Standard of spring onions

Onions graded as spring onions shall comprise onion plants complete with foliage which are — 

(a)free from dirt or other foreign matter; and

(b)free from blemishes caused by disease, insect injury, sunburn or mechanical damage.

12.Standard of bunched onions

Onions graded as bunched onions shall comprise onion plants complete with foliage which are — 

(a)free from dirt or other foreign matter;

(b)free from blemishes caused by disease, insect injury, sunburn or mechanical damage; and

(c)bunched for sale.

13.Sizes

(1)For the purposes of this Code the diameter of an onion is the greatest transverse measurement of the onion taken at right angles to its axis.

(2)Onions — 

(a)graded as Grade I or Grade II shall be not less than 45 millimetres nor more than 75 millimetres in diameter;

(b)graded as Large shall be more than 75 millimetres in diameter;

(c)graded as pickler grade shall be less than 45 millimetres in diameter;

(d)graded as spring onions shall have a bulb of not more than 25 millimetres in diameter;

(e)graded as bunched onions shall have a bulb of 25 millimetres or more in diameter.

14.Packages for onions

(1)Except for spring onions and bunched onions, onions intended for sale shall be packed in new, or clean secondhand bags.

(2)Bags which have contained organic manures or other deleterious or obnoxious substances shall not be used as containers for onions.

15.Packing and marking packages

(1)A package in which onions are sold shall not contain onions of any grade other than the grade specified on the package.

(2)The package in which onions are sold shall bear a label or other marking specifying in relation to the onions contained therein the following particulars — 

(a)the word “onions”;

(b)the grade of quality;

(c)the name and district of the grower or packer of the onions.

(3)The size of the characters setting out the particulars required to be marked on any package containing onions being sold shall be — 

(a)if printed on a label — not less than 5 millimetres in height;

(b)if stencilled on the package — not less than 20 millimetres in height.

 

Notes

1.This is a compilation of the Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983 and includes the amendments referred to in the following Table.

Compilation table

Citation

Gazettal

Commencement

Onion Grading and Packing Code 1983

23 Sep 1983 p. 3869-70

1 Oct 1983 (see r. 2)