WALNUTS GRADING AND MARKING RULES
1. Short title and application- (1) These rules may be called the walnuts Grading and Marking Rules, 1966.
(2) They shall apply to in-shell and shelled walnuts produced in India.
(ii) Gross weight shall be marked on each package (except in the case of consignments to be shipped to the United Kingdom),
(iii) The standard packages shall be of 10 kilograms ;
12.5 kilograms, 25 kilograms, 25.5. Kilograms, 50 kilograms, 51 kgs, gross weight.
2. Definition – In these rules “Schedule” means a schedule appended to these rules. (b) Shelled walnuts :
(i) Sound, seaworthy, seasoned wooden boxes, card board cartons, tins or aluminum / aluminum lined polythene / laminated detailed polyester nylon/plastic flexible film pouches for nitrogen / carbon dioxide gas filled or flushed vacuum packing shall be used.
For introducing other types of packages, prior approval of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India or of such officer as may be authorised by him in this behalf shall be necessary
3. Grade designation-The grade designation to indicate the quality of in-shell and shelled walnuts shall be as set out in schedules II and III, respectively.
4. Definition of quality –The quality indicated by the grade designation shall be as set out against each grade designation in schedules II and III.
5. Grade designation mark – The grade designation mark shall consist of a label bearing a design (consisting of an outline map of India with the world “AGMARK” and the figure of rising sun with the words “Produce of India” and (Hkkjrh; mRikn) resembling that set out in schedule I.
(ii) The standard packages shall be of 10 Kilograms,
12.5 Kilograms, 25 kilograms, net weight,
(iii) Proper lining material (at least double lining, the first lining of brown or Kraft paper and the second lining of the stout white, grease-proof, waxed or thick white parchment paper)) shall be used,
(iv) Net weight of the Kernels shall be stenciled on the container (this may not apply in case of consignments to be shipped to the United Kingdom)
6. Method of marking - (1) The grade designation mark shall be securely affixed to each container in the manner approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India. In addition to the grade designation mark, each container shall be marked with such particulars and in such manner as may be specified by the said officer from time to time. The following particulars, in addition to grade designation shall be clearly marked on the label, namely :- With the permission of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India or any other officer authorised by him in this behalf, the packing can be suitably modified to meet the buyer requirements.
8. Fumigation – (i) Fumigation of new crop (from the 1st of October of each year to the last day of January of the succeeding year) in case of in-shell walnuts is not compulsory. From 1st February to 30th September each year, fumigation of all consignments of in-shell walnuts shall be compulsory.
(i) Serial number
(ii) Type (in-shell or shelled walnuts );
(iii) year of harvest ; and
(iv) Date of packing .
(ii) Shelled walnuts packed in vacuum or in nitrogen or carbon dioxide filled/ flushed pouches of tings or aluminum containers may not be fumigated. Fumigation of all other shelled walnuts shall be compulsory prior to export; consignments of in-shell walnuts shall be compulsory.
(2) an authorised packer may mark his private trade mark approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India on a container in the manner approved by the said officer, provided that the private trade mark does not represent a quality of grade different from that indicated by the grade designation mark affixed on the container in accordance with these rules.
(ii) Shelled walnuts packed in vacuum or in nitrogen or carbon dioxide failed/ flushed pouches or tings or aluminum containers may not be fumigated. Fumigation of all other shelled walnuts shall be compulsory prior to export;
7. Method of packing ;
a) In-shell walnuts -
(i) Shall be packed in sound, clean gunny bags or High density polyethylene (HDPE) bags or in wooden boxes or card board cartons. The bags shall be neatly stitched. All the packages shall be stenciled and sealed in such manner as may be prescribed by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Govt. of India,
(iii) Export consignment shall be fumigated not earlier than 15 days before shipment.
(iv) Fumigation of both in-shell* and shelled walnuts and prophylactic treatment of containers shall be undertaken in accordance with the instruction issued by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India and a 1 certificate to this effect shall be produced by the exporter or his agent in respect of each exported lot to the officer who issued the relevant certificate of grading within 15 days from the date of shipment as a proof that the said lot was fumigated by the fumigator recognized for the purpose by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India as prescribed in clause (iii) of rule 8.
(v) Re-examination of Agmark graded consignments prior to export;
In case an Agmark graded consignment is not shipped within the stipulated period of validity from the date of grading, the consignment can be exported only after it has been reinspected by the officer authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India and the Certificate of Agmark grading revalidated. The revalidated certificate of Agmark grading shall also remain effective for a fixed period, after which it shall again require revalidation. The period of validity shall be as under;-
(a) Shelled walnuts packed in vacuum or in nitrogen or carbon dioxide filled/ flushed pouches tins of aluminum containers ninety days from the date of inspection ;
(b) shelled walnuts packed other than (a) above and in shell walnuts;-
(i) sixty days for consignments packed from the beginning of the season to end of February next year ;
(ii) Forty five days for consignments packed from the first March to the end of the season.
(c) The period of revalidation in all cases shall be forty five days from the date of re-inspection.
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SCHEDULE-I (See Rule 5) Design for the grade designation mark 3
SCHEDULE-II (See Rules 3 and 4) Grade designation and definition of quality of in-shell walnuts (Juglans Regia) Produced in India Grade Special requirements General Requirements designation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Size Tolerance limit for nuts having (minimum) ------------------------------------------------------ invisible or internal visible or defects superficial defects (Maximum) (Maximum) 1 2 3 4 5 India 32 mm 10 percent of which stony 15 percent The walnuts shall :- Super Special nuts (hard or Katha) not 1) be of current year crop only;
to exceed 2 percent India Special 30 mm 10 percent of which stony 15 percent 2) be well developed, well washed or nuts (hard or katha) not to bleached and present a clean and exceed 2 percent. attractive appearance and have bright shells;
India-I 26 mm 10 percent of which stony 15 percent 3) be free from artificial colouring;
nuts (hard or katha) not to exceed 2 percent. 4) be reasonably dry so that the loss in weight may not exceed 1 percent on India-B 24 mm 10 percent of which stony 15 percent arrival at the destination;
nuts (hard or katha) not to exceed 2 percent. 5) be free from live pests, grubs, eggs and the like;
6) give 90 percent and above good cracking and yield kernels of agreeable taste and aroma;
7) be fairly free from invisible or internal defects and stony (hard or katha) or empty nuts;
8) be fairly free from visible or superficial defects;
9) be clean, well graded and fairly free from foreign matter;
An additional tolerance of 5 percent for nuts having “hull stains” not exceeding 50 percent of shell surface area is allowed.
NOTE : All percentage for calculating tolerance shall be on the basis of count.
DEFINITIONS:-
1. Invisible or internal defects :- means defects, like darkening, oil seepage or bleeding, mould or fungus attack, rancidity, shrivelling, insect pest infestation and powdering (meal formation.)
2. Visible or superficial defects :- means defects like undersized, partially developed or deformed nuts, damaged or cracked shell, splits or perforations, oil stains, sun burns or blight marks residue of chemical bleaches and the like.
3. Foreign matter :- includes cob-webs, shell grits, hull remains, rodent excreta, human hair and the like.
4. Firm order :- means order from the buyer indicating the quality and quantity of the produce desired.
NOTE :- Non-specified grade shall be allowed for export grading only against specific order from the buyer indicating the quality and quantity required.
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SCHEDULE –III (See rules 3 and 4) Grade Designations and Definitions of Quality of Shelled Walnuts ( Juglans Regia) Produced in India.
Special requirements Maximum limits of tolerance for Sl.No. Grade Designation Color Size Color Size Other defects General requirements 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Indian light Halves Light creamy or light golden yellow Complete halves 10% darker than grade color of which not more than 2 % shall be darker than light amber to lighten.
Ecornee 13% which shall not contain 5% kernels smaller than pieces (large) 4%
2. Indian special small light Halves Light creamy or light golden yellow Small complete halves As laid down for Indian light halves 18% kernels of which smaller than pieces (large) shall not exceed 5% and over sized kernels shall not exceed 6% the oversized kernels shall not exceed 26mm in breadth or length.
4%
3. Indian Light Quarters Light Creamy or light golden yellow Ecornee down to quarters As laid down for Indian light halves 13% of Kernels not conforming to grade size of which crumbs not to exceed 1% 4%
4. Indian Light Brokens/Pieces( large) Light creamy or light golden yellow Ecornee down to pieces which shall not pass through 7mm sieve As laid down for Indian light halves 13% of kernels not conforming to grade size of which crumbs not to exceed 1% 4% The Kernels shall:- i) Be obtain From walnuts Current year crop only;
ii) be edible, having agreeable taste and aroma;
(iii)be free from walnut meal or flour at the time of packing
(iv)be properly cured that is, efficiently dried, so that they reach the destination in good and sound condition and loss in weight on arrival at destination may not exceed 1% v) be reasonably free from partially or wholly shrunken or shriveled,oilbled, darkend blighted, sunburnt , wormeaten, rancid, bitter, excessively oily or unpalatable, tainted, or blemished kernels;
vi) be free from diseased and moldy pieces, cobwebs, rodent excreta, human hair, live pests, grubs or eggs, shell grits, wood splinters, husk and other foreign matter.
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SCHEDULE –III Cont.
5. Indian Light Pieces (small) Light creamy or light golden yellow One quarter of complete halves down to pieces which shall not pass through 4.5 mm. sieve As laid down for Indian Light Halves Pieces bigger than one quarter of complete halves including pieces (large) shall not exceed 25% of which crumbs not to exceed 2% 4%
6. Indian Light crumbs Light creamy or light golden yellow Small pieces which shall pass through
4.5 mm.
sieve but shall not pass through 3 mm. sieve As laid down for Indian light Halves 10% of pieces bigger than
4.5mm. but less than 7 mm in size and 2% of pieces smaller than 3 mm in size 4%
7. Indian light Amber halves Light amber or light tan.
Complete halves 10% darker than the grade color of which not more than 2% shall be darker than amber or brown (tan) As laid down for Indian light halves 4%
8. Indian light amber quarters.
Light amber or light tan.
Ecornee down to quarters As laid down for Indian Light amber halves As laid down for Indian light quarters 4%
9. Indian Light Amber Brokens/pi eces(large) Light Amber or light tan Ecornee down to pieces which shall not pass through 7 mm sieve As laid down for Indian Light Amber Halves As laid down for Indian Light Broken/Pieces (large) 4% -do-
SCHEDULE –III Cont.
10. Indian Light Amber Pieces (small) Light Amber or light tan.
One quarter of complete halves down to pieces which shall not pass through
4.5mm.
sieve As laid down for Indian Light Amber Halves As laid down for Indian Light pieces(small) 4%
11. Indian Light Amber Crumbs Light Amber or light tan Crumbs As laid down for Indian Light Amber Halves As laid down for Indian Light Crumbs 4%
12. Indian Brown Halves Brown (tan)or amber Complete halves 10% darker than Brown(tan) or amber and or off colored kernels As laid down for Indian Light Halves 4%
13. Indian Brown Quarters Brown(tan) or amber Ecornee down to quarters As laid down for Indian Brown Halves As laid down for Indian Light quarters 4%
14. Indian Brown Broken/pie Brown (tan) or amber Ecornee down to pieces which As laid down for Indian Brown Halves As laid down for Indian Light quarters 6% of which rancid, oil-bled and unpalatable kernels -do- 6 7 ces(large) shall not pass through
7mm. sieve not to exceed 4%
15. Indian Brown pieces (small) Brown (tan) or amber One quarter of complete halves down to pieces which shall not pass through 4.5 mm. sieve As laid down for Indian Brown Halves As laid down for Indian Light pieces (small) 4%
16. Indian Brown Crumbs Brown (tan) or amber.
crumbs As laid down for Indian Brown Halves As laid down for Indian Light Crumbs.
4%
17. Non-Specified
SCHEDULE –III Cont.
NOTE :
1) All tolerances shall be calculated on the basis of weight 2) Maximum tolerance for foreign matter which includes wood, splinters, husk. Dirt, walnut, meal shell pieces etc. shall not exceed 0.25%.
3) The kernels/lots of pieces (small) shall be reasonably free from “crumbs” and lot of “crumbs” shall be reasonably free from both large and small pieces and also from minute particles of kernels.
4) Non-specified grade shall be allowed for export grading only against specified order from the buyer indicating the quality and quantity required.
Definitions:- Complete Halves:- Undamaged separate cotyledons of fully developed kernels Small Complete Halves:- Complete halves of size not exceeding 24mm. either in length or breadth.
Ecornee:- Three quarters of complete halves.
Quarters:- Longitudinal halves of complete halves Pieces (Large):- Pieces of kernels which shall not pass through 7 mm. sieve.
Pieces(small):- One quarter of complete halves down to pieces larger than crumbs but they shall not pass through 4.5mm sieve.
Crumbs:- Pieces of kernels smaller than pieces (small) but they shall not pass through 3mm. sieve, obtained by sieving out or made from different grades of kernels of the same color.
Other defects:- Partially or wholly shrunken or shriveled oil bled darkened, blighted, sun burns, worm eaten, rancid, bitter. excessively oily or unpalatable, tainted or blemished kernels.
Note: (i) The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3 (ii) dated 11.6.66 vide number S.O 1960 dated 31.5.1966 and subsequently amended vide S.O 1407 dated 15.5.1987.
(2) Second amendment published vide G.S.R 163 dated 15.3.94 appeared in the Gazette of India Part II sub-section (i) dated 2.4.94