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Fruits and vegetables are present on shelves all year round. They are eaten on their own, used to prepare hot and cold dishes, as raw materials for the food industry. In all these cases, the products undergo a mandatory conformity assessment before being released for sale in the EAEU. During the procedures, it is confirmed that no substances were used in the process of cultivation, processing, delivery, which can harm humans and the environment.
Mandatory declaration of fruits and vegetables
In terms of technical regulation, fruits and vegetables belong to the category of food products and are simultaneously subject to two EAEU regulations:
021/2011 – contains requirements for quality and safety indicators of all types of foodstuffs. Obliges manufacturers and other persons included in the supply chain to implement the principles of the HACCP system in the enterprise.
022/2011 – establishes requirements for the completeness and reliability of the information that is present on the food label. In particular, their name, quantity, date of production (harvest), information about the manufacturer, shelf life should be applied to the packaging.
For certain categories of goods, additional technical regulations of the Customs Union apply. For example, for fruit and vegetable juices, purees, the provisions of TR TS 023/2011 apply, for products containing food additives – TR CU 029/2012.
Conformity assessment is carried out in the form of a declaration. It can be carried out for serial production (with an indication of the validity of the declaration: from 1 to 5 years), or for one batch (with a limitation on the quantity of goods).
What product parameters are checked during the declaration?
Conformity assessment according to TR TS 021/2011 involves mandatory laboratory tests of fruits and vegetables. The following sample parameters are checked:
- organoleptic properties (ripeness, appearance, taste, etc.);
- bacterial contamination;
- hygienic safety (content of such harmful substances as lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nitrates, pesticides);
- the content of mycotoxins;
- lack of antibiotics;
- otherwise.
The exact list of characteristics to be tested depends on the type of food. The results of the examinations are entered into an official document – a test report, one copy of which is transferred to the entrepreneur.
When declaring a serial production, an additional production control is carried out at the enterprise. It is checked whether the risk management system is built according to the HACCP standard. It involves the control of technological operations, documentation, strict observance of sanitary and hygienic standards.
Declaration can be carried out for serial production (for 1-5 years) or for a batch (for the shelf life of products, with a limitation on its quantity).
Phytosanitary certification of fruits and vegetables
If fruit and vegetable products are transported across the border of the Federation without preliminary processing and packaging, a phytosanitary certificate is required for it. This rule is enshrined in the CCC Decision No. 318 dated June 18.06.2010, XNUMX. The document confirms that the product meets the current quarantine standards.
Evaluation procedures are carried out by Rosselkhoznadzor bodies. They include verification of enterprise documentation:
- foreign economic contract;
- information about the cargo itself and its route;
- information on the control methods used by the manufacturer.
Laboratory studies of the batch are also carried out. It is determined whether it contains pests, whether the product is infected with infectious diseases. If necessary, disinfection is carried out with the execution of the relevant act.
A phytosanitary certificate is issued for one specific shipment. Its validity period is 14 days (for EU countries) or 15 days (for other states).
Voluntary certification of fruits and vegetables
A voluntary certificate for vegetables and fruits is issued in the evaluation system chosen by the entrepreneur himself. It can be obtained after the completion of the mandatory declaration. The document confirms those properties of the goods that the entrepreneur himself considered necessary to highlight, for example:
- appearance;
- taste;
- ripeness;
- no impurities in the batch;
- the absence of damaged or non-corresponding elements;
- otherwise.
Samples of products undergo laboratory tests, as a result of which a protocol is drawn up. The revealed properties of the samples are compared with the normative values, which are established by the technical documentation of the enterprise.
The quality certificate is valid for no more than 3 years. For this period, the entrepreneur receives the right to use special markings. The document is a competitive advantage of the holder when concluding large supply contracts, participating in procurement procedures and developing new sales markets.
How is the declaration of vegetables and fruits
The procedure for declaring food products is regulated by TR CU 021/2011. The procedure includes:
- collection of a package of documentation for the product and its manufacturer;
- verification of documentation for compliance with legal requirements;
- sampling products, their research in the laboratory;
- inspection of production for compliance with HACCP principles.
After completion of these procedures, the entrepreneur independently registers the declaration. To do this, he fills out an electronic application, attaches test reports to it, certifies with an enhanced EDS. Documents are sent for consideration by Rosaccreditation through the personal account of the company or individual entrepreneur at the State Services.
Based on the results of the verification of documents, Rosaccreditation assigns a unique number to the declaration, registers information about it in the Unified Register. From this moment, the entrepreneur receives the right to legally sell food products on the territory of the EAEU.
At the link https://rimtest.ru/deklaratsiya-na-frukty/ you can get more detailed information or contact experts for advice.