§52.1001. Product description. — Inbound Citations

In order to effectuate the declared policy of the act, all dates handled as marketable dates shall meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C, or if for further processing, U.S. Grade C (Dry) of the effective U.S. Standards for Grades of Dates, 7 CFR 52.1001: Provided, That the Secretary, may upon recommendation of the Committee, prescribe other minimum standards of grades and sizes for marketable dates of any variety to be handled in any designated outlet. To aid the Secretary in prescribing such other minimum standards, the Committee shall furnish to the Secretary the data upon which it acted in recommending such standards. The provisions hereof relating to minimum standards of grades and sizes for marketable dates and inspection requirements, within the meaning of section 2(3) of the act, and any other provisions relating to the administration and enforcement thereof shall continue in effect irrespective of whether the season average price to producers for dates is or is not in excess of the parity level specified in section 2(1) of the act. Notice of the minimum standard regulation shall be sent by the Committee to all handlers of record. On and after the effective date of such regulations no handler shall handle dates except in accordance with such minimum standard.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the importation into the United States of any lot of dates for packaging or dates in retail packages is prohibited unless the dates are wholesome and unadulterated and meet the following grade requirements which are determined to be comparable to those imposed upon domestic dates handled pursuant to Order No. 987, as amended (part 987 of this chapter: The whole or pitted dates in the lot are of one variety, and are of such quality and condition that upon inspection on the basis of a representative sample thereof, with hydration (of the sample) in accordance with good commercial practice or without any hydration, the dates possess a reasonably good color, are reasonably uniform in size, are reasonably free from defects, possess a reasonably good character, and score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system applicable to U.S. Grade B dates, as prescribed in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Dates (§§ 52.1001 through 52.1011 of this chapter): Provided, That not more than 25 percent, by weight, of the dates may possess semidry or dry calyx ends except that not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the dates may possess dry calyx ends: And provided further, That in determining the grade for pitted dates, the pitted dates shall not be scored as damaged because of the longitudinal slit caused by removing the pit or the mashing resulting therefrom unless the flesh is seriously torn or mangled.