NUTMEG GRADING AND MARKING RULES
1. Short title, application and commencement-
(1) These Rules may be called the Nutmeg Grading and Marking rules, 1995.
(2) They shall apply to Nutmeg whole and nutmeg ground (powdered)
(3) They shall come into force from the date of their Publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions- In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires :- a) “Agricultural Marketing Adviser” means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India;
b) “Authorised packer” means a person or a body of person or a body of persons who has been granted a certificate of Authorisation to grade and mark nutmeg whole and or nutmeg ground (powdered) in accordance with the grade standards and procedure specified in these rules;
c) “Certificate of Authorisation” means a certificate issued under the provisions of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988 authorising a person or body of persons and mark nutmeg whole and or nutmeg ground (powdered) with the grade designation mark;
d) “Schedule” means a schedule annexed to these rules.
3. Grade designation- the grade designation to indicate the quality of nutmeg whole and nutmeg ground (powdered) are as set out in column I of Schedule-I and II.
4. Definition of quality- The quality indicated by the respective grade designations shall be as set out against each grade designation in columns 2 to 5 of Schedule-I and in columns 2 to 8 of Schedule-II.
5. Grade designation mark- The grade designation mark shall consist of :-
(1) a label specifying name of the produce, grade designation and bearing a design consisting of an outline map of India with the word “AGMARK” and the figure of rising sun resembling the one as set out in Schedule III; or
(2) “Agmark replica” consisting of a design incorporating the number of Certificate of Authorisation, the word “AGMARK” name of the produce, grade designation and resembling the one as out in Schedule-IV.
Provided that the use of AGMARK replica in lieu of AGMARK labels shall be allowed only to such authorised packers who have been granted necessary permission by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised in this regard and subject to the conditions prescribed under the General Grading and Marking rules, 1988.
6. Method of packing –
(1) Nutmeg whole shall be packed in clean, sound and dry jute and cotton bags or in pouches made of food grade plastic;
(2) Nutmeg powder shall be packed in new, clean sound and dry containers made of tin, glass or in pouches made of laminated/extrusioned/metailised multilayer food grade plastic materials;
(3) The net weight of the nutmeg whole and nutmeg powder packed in a Container shall be 25 grams, 50 grams,100 grams, 500 grams, 1 Kg. and thereafter in multiples of 500 grams;
(4) The containers shall be free from insect infestation, fungus contamination, deleterious, substances and any undesirable or obnoxious small;
(5) Each container shall be securely closed and suitably sealed;
(6) Suitable number of consumer packs containing graded material of the same grade designation and from the same lot/batch may be packed in master containers such as wooden Cases, card board cartons etc.
7. Method of Marking –
(1) The grade designation mark shall be securely affixed to or clearly and indelibly marked printed on each container;
(2) In addition to the grade designation the following particulars shall be clearly and indelibly marked on label or the container:-
(a) Name and address of the packer;
(b) Place of packing
(c) Date of packing in month and year
(d) Lot batch number
(e) Net Weight
(f) Price
(3) Proper care shall be taken to ensure that the ink used for marking does not contaminate the product;
(2) The authorised packer may, with prior approval of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser or an officer authorised in this regard, affix his private trade mark or trade brand on the graded packages provided that the same does not indicate quality other than that indicated by the grade designation mark affixed to the graded packages.
8. Special conditions for grant of certificate of Authorisation- In addition to the general conditions specified in Sub-rule (8) of rule 3 of the General Grading and Marking Rules, 1988, the following shall be the additional conditions for grant of certificate of Authorisation for Grading and Marking nutmeg whole and nutmeg (powdered) under these rules, namely :-
(1) The authorised packer shall either set up his own laboratory manned by a qualified chemist approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser on an officer authorised in this regard for testing quality of nutmeg whole and nutmeg ground (powdered) or have access to the state grading laboratory or private commercial laboratory approved for the purpose;
(2) The premises for processing ,grinding and packing shall be maintained in perfect hygienic and sanitary condition.
(3) The personnel engaged in these operations shall be in sound health and free from any contagious disease.
SCHEDULE I (See rules 3 and 4) Grade designation and definition of quality of NUTMEG (Jaiphal) whole Definition of Quality Grade Special requirements Designatin ------------------------------------------------------------------ General Requirements Moisture Insect damaged Volatile oil Content, percent and broken content by mass kernels ,percent ml/100 gm (Maximum) by mass (Minimum) 1 2 3 4 5 Standard 8.0 3.0 6.0 Nutmeg (Jaiphal) whole shall :-
(a) be the dried kernel of ripe fruit of nutmeg tree.
Myristica fragrans Houttuyn;
(b) be spherical or slightly ovoid in shape with greyish brown colour and hard surface marked with numerous braided furrows;
(c) have characteristic and aromatic odour and acrid, warm, slightly bitter taste;
(d) be free from rancidity, off-flavour, musty odour, mould growth, insect infestation and rodent contamination;
(e) be free from extraneous matter and added colouring matter;
(f) comply with the restrictions in regard to aflatoxin content, metallic contaminants and insecticide residues as prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955.
SCHEDULE II (See rules 3 and 4) Grade designation and definition of quality of NUTMEG GROUND (Powdered) Grade Definition of Quality designation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Special requirements ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Moisture Total ash, Acid Crude fibre, Non-volatile Volatile oil percent percent insoluble ash percent by ether extract, ml/100 mg by mass by mass percent by mass on dry percent by (Minimum) (Maximum) on dry basis mass, on dry basis mass on dry basis (Maximum) basis (Maximum) (Minimum) (Maximum) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Standard 8.0 3.0 0.5 5.0 30.0 6.0 General requirments
(8) Nutmeg ground (powdered) shall:-
(a) be the powder obtained by grinding the dried kernels of ripe fruit of nutmeg trees Myristica fragrans, Houttuyn;
(b) have the characteristic aromatic flavour and acrid, warm, slightly bitter taste;
(c) be free from rancidity, off-flavour musty odour, fungal contamination, insect infestation, rodent contamination, extraneous matter and added colouring matter;
(d) comply with the restrictions in regard to aflatoxin content, metallic contaminants and insecticide residues as prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955.
SCHEDULE III [See Rules 5 (i)] Grade designation mark “Design on the AGMARK label” P RO DU CE OF INDIA
SCHEDULE-IV [See rule 5 (ii)] Grade designation mark “Design of AGMARK replica” CA No.
NAME OF COMMODITY____________________________ GRADE _________________________ NOTE : The principal rules were published vide G.S.R.145 dt. 27-2-1996 in the Gazette of India, Part II, Sec.3, Sub-Section (i) dt.
23-3-96.