The regulations and requirements for rhubarb of the varieties (cultivars) of Rheum rhaponticum L. are as follows:
Quality standards
| (1) | Subject to the regulations for Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and the Lowest Class rhubarb in subregulation 2 and the permissible deviations in subregulation 4, each rhubarb shall ; |
| (c) | be clean and free from visible foreign matter, including soil; |
| (d) | be free from Arthropoda infestation; |
| (e) | be free from insect damage or damage caused by other organisms; |
| (f) | be smooth and not excessively fibrous; |
| (g) | be free from injuries; |
| (h) | be free from bruises; |
| (i) | be free from abnormal external moisture; |
| (j) | be free from foreign odours; |
| (k) | be free from cold damage; |
| (I) | be free from sun -scorch; |
| (n) | be free from any other factors that detrimentally affect or may affect the quality of the rhubarb; |
| (o) | be fresh and show no sign of withering; |
| (p) | be sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar; and |
| (q) | be of such development and condition as to enable them to withstand transport and handling. |
| (2) | The leaves of the rhubarb, measured from the top of the leaf-stalk, shall not be longer than 50 mm. |
Packing and sorting requirements
| (a) | Rhubarb is packed and sorted according to the length of the leaf-stalk and the maximum diameter measured at the mid-point-of the leaf-stalk. |
| (b) | The minimum length of the leaf-stalk ; |
| (i) | in the case of Class 1 rhubarb ; |
| (aa) | grown under protection, is 250 mm; or |
| (bb) | grown in the open, is 200 mm; or |
| (cc) | grown in the open, without forcing, is 250 mm; and |
| (ii) | in the case of Class 2 and Class 3 rhubarb ; |
| (aa) | grown under protection, is 200 mm; or |
| (bb) | grown in the open, is 150 mm; or |
| (cc) | grown in the open, without forcing, is 200 mm. |
| (c) | The minimum diameter in the case of ; |
| (aa) | grown under protection, is 15 mm; or |
| (bb) | grown in the open, is 20 mm; or |
| (cc) | grown in the open, without forcing, is 20 mm; and |
| (ii) | Class 2 and Class 3 rhubarb ; |
| (aa) | grown under protection, is 10 mm; or |
| (bb) | grown in the open, is 15 mm; or |
| (cc) | grown in the open, without forcing, is 15 mm. |
Permissible deviations with regard to quality standards
| (a) | Class 1 rhubarb may deviate from the quality standards with not more than 10% by number or mass: Provided that the deviating rhubarb ; |
| (i) | at least complies with the quality standards for Class 2; and |
| (ii) | does not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - | Arthropoda infestation - Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1 |
| (b) | Class 2 and Class 3 rhubarb may deviate from the quality standard for Class 2 and Class 3 with not more than 15% and 25% respectively by number or mass: Provided that the deviating rhubarb ; does not exceed the following individual limits: |
| - | decay - 4% and 6% respectively; |
| - | injuries - 8% and 10% respectively; |
| - | Arthropoda infestation - Limit as set out in regulation 4(4)(c): Part 1. |
Permissible deviations with regard to packing and sorting requirements
| (5) | Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 rhubarb may deviate from the packing and sorting requirements as set out in subregulation 3, with not more than 10%, 15% and 25% respectively by number: Provided that Class 1 rhubarb shall not deviate by more than 20 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter from the minimum standards. |
