Sixtieth Session of the
UNECE Specialized Section on Standardization of
Dry and Dried Produce
Geneva, Switzerland, June 17 – 20, 2013
Dorian A. LaFond
Chair
UNECE Specialized Section on Standardization of
Dry and Dried Produce
Attendance: 40 delegates representing15 countries and
representatives from
◦ The OECD Scheme for the Application of
International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables.
◦ Codex Alimentarius secretariat
◦ International Nut and Dried Fruit Council
Foundation (INC),
◦ China Tree Nut Association,
◦ African Cashew Alliance, and
◦ Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation
June 2013 three day mini exhibition on “UNECE Standards in
International Trade” officially opened by Mr. Andrey Vasilyev,
Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNECE
The exhibition showcased the impact of the UNECE Dry and
Dried Produce Standards in international trade. Lectures were
given on the nuts, nutrition and health as well as on the
production and processing.
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR
EUROPE
UNECE Dry and Dried Produce Standards
in International Trade
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION
FOR EUROPE
UNECE Dry and Dried Produce Standards in
International Trade
Go nuts for health
Nuts, nutrition and health
18 June 2013
14:00
Salle VIII
Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó,
Director, Human Nutrition Unit,
Rovira i Virgili University, Reus,
Spain
From trees to your
table
Behind the scenes – production,
science and processing
19 June 2013
14:00
Salle VIII
Mr. Sam Keiper
Dried Fruit Association California, USA
Mr. Lothar Boers
Eurofins Laboratories, Germany
Impressions
from the
exhibition
Samples for display
and tasting came from
all major nut and dried
fruit producing regions
of the world.
Demonstrating
how UNECE
Standards work
Special thanks to all participating delegations, the
International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) and its
members; the UNECE Secretariat - Liliana AnnovazziJakab , the interns and members of the Dry and Dried
Produce Specialized Section.
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS
a. DRIED APRICOTS (Revision):- Several changes to the recommendation including
amendments in the sections on
“moisture content“, “sizing” and “quality tolerances”
DECISION: The Specialized Section forwards the Recommendation to the
Working Party with a request to extend the trial period for
another year.
b. DRIED FIGS (Revision):- The Specialized Section made changes including in the
sections on “moisture content”; in “sizing” (addition of sizing by diameter); and in the
“definition of produce”(inclusion of pieces).
DECISION: The Specialized Section forwards the Recommendation to the
Working Party with a request to extend the trial period for
another year.
It was agreed that working groups led by Turkey will continue discussions on both of these
recommendations during the Working Party session in November 2013 utilizing all proposals
made prior to and during the Specialized section meeting.
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS contd.
c. INSHELL WALNUTS and Explanatory Brochure
The Specialized Section adopted several changes to the Recommendation for Inshell Walnuts and, in
an inter-sessional procedure, adopted also the revised Table of Tolerances. The Specialized Section
agreed to submit the revised text to the Working Party for adoption.
The Specialized Section concurred with the decision of the Inshell Walnut Explanatory
Brochure working group that:
i. members would submit photos to the Rapporteur.
ii. In the final draft to include an Annex on Production methods
iii. The brochure completion is set for 2014 DDP Session.
DECISION: The Specialized Section submits the Recommendation for Inshell
Walnuts to the Working Party for adoption as a revised UNECE
standard
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS contd.
d. CASHEW KERNELS
The cashew Recommendation was discussed with close attention paid to the
provisions from the Association of Food Industries (AFI) the Brazilian, Vietnamese and
Indian standards, input from the African Cashew Alliance and the International Nut and
Dried Fruit Council (INC). Relevant changes were made
DECISION:
The Specialized Section submits the Recommendation for
Cashew Kernels to the Working Party for adoption as a
revised UNECE standard.
e. PINE NUT KERNELS
The Specialized Section reviewed this Recommendations and made changes based on
the industry trials.
DECISION: The Specialized Section submits the revised standard for
Pine Nut Kernels to the Working Party for adoption as a
revised UNECE standard
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS contd.
f. DRIED MANGOES: The Recommendation for Dried Mangoes was discussed and
changes in the section on “moisture content” and to tolerances for “foreign matter
allowed”. Given the particularity of soft fruit/high moisture mangoes, it was decided to
make the marking of the “best before date” for such produce mandatory.
DECISION: The Specialized Section submits the Recommendation for Dried
Mangoes to the Working Party for
adoption as a new UNECE
standard.
This standard brought to the fore the need for appropriate terminology and definition of “foreign
matter
g. INSHELL BRAZIL NUTS: - Based on the results of the trial the Specialized Section
made changes to the sections on “moisture Content”, sizing, table of tolerances.
Due to an emergency, the industry representative could not be present during the review
of the draft. The Specialized Section decided to await their continued input electronically
and used the same process (consent via electronic mail) for the adoption of the standard
DECISION: The Specialized Section submit the Recommendation for Inshell
Brazil nuts to the Working Party for
adoption as a new UNECE
Standard
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS contd.
h. BRAZIL NUT KERNELS
Based on the results of the trial the Specialized Section made changes to the sections
of the standard on: the minimum requirement , moisture content, sizing and table of
tolerances of the standard.
Decision: The Specialized Section submit the Recommendation for Inshell
Brazil nuts to the Working Party for adoption as a new UNECE
Standard
REVIEW OF UNECE D&DP RECOMMENDATIONS contd.
i. WHOLE DRIED CHILLI PEPPERS and Draft Brochure on Whole Dried
The delegation of Mexico led discussion on both the recommendation and the
explanatory brochure. Changes made to the Recommendation including alignment with
the standard layout.
Decision: The Specialized Section submit the Recommendation for whole
Dried Chili Peppers to the Working Party for adoption as a
new UNECE Standard.
The draft Explanatory Brochure was presented for discussion in pre-print format It was
agreed that the brochure would be finalized over the next weeks with suggested changes
made in time to allow for printing as soon as possible and facilitate submission to the 60 th
Working Party session.
Decision: The Specialized Section presents the Explanatory Brochure on
Whole Dry Chili Peppers to the Working Party for final adoption.
ALIGNMENT WITH THE 2011 STANDARD LAYOUT
a. DRIED GRAPES
The Rapporteur (Turkey) led the discussion on the revision of this standard. Awaiting
consensus are the sections on moisture Content and quality tolerances.
DECISION: This standard remains work in progress. The Delegation of
Turkey will continue to lead its development within a working
group .
REVIEW OF PROPOSED NEW DRAFT STANDARDS (ONGOING
WORK)
a. DRIED CRANBERRIES
During the review of the standard, it was felt that more technical information
concerning defects in color was needed and it was decided to put the development of
the standard on hold until further discussions with the respective industries. It was
placed on the agenda of the 2014 session of the Specialized Section.
REVIEW OF PROPOSED NEW DRAFT STANDARDS
(ONGOING WORK)
b. DRIED PINEAPPLES
Substantial amendments were made to definition of produce- size measurements were
deleted and style descriptions retained; moisture content adjusted and table of
tolerances still ongoing; review with a new description of foreign matter included.
DECISION: The Specialized section submit the draft standard for Dried
Pineapples to the Working Party for adoption as a new
Recommendation for a trial period of one year
REVIEW OF THE DDP STANDARD LAYOUT ANNEX –
DEFINITION OF TERMS AND DEFECTS
The Specialized Section will review the definition of terms and defects at the 2014
session. Proposals will be prepared by the delegations of of Germany, France and Turkey.
Discussions on: Sugaring, Rehydration, Food Additives
(Colour Retention, Preservatives And Flavourings)
The information note (prepared with the help of the FAO Codex
Alimentarius Secretariat) on how the issues of sugaring, rehydration or food
additives could be dealt with in UNECE Standards for dry and dried produce
in a cross-cutting way was summarised in a presentation to the Specialized
Section with the following outcomes:
Rehydration: Though it is not necessary to include specific provisions for
rehydration in UNECE DDP Standards, traders should comply with
destination markets labelling requirements.
Sugared product: A UNECE DDP Standard can be develop for a product
that is sugared for technical purposes. However, sugaring as done in
cranberries, is not only done for technical purposes.
Food additives: Except the US delegation, all other delegations preferred
maintaining the status quo.
Development of Sampling Plans for Tree Nuts and For Dried
Produce
The following was agreed:
I.
Development of two separate sampling plans, one for tree nuts and one for dried
fruits.
II.
The sampling plans would provide information on:
◦
sample size based on the lot size .
◦ sample size dependent on the size of the product, i.e., smaller and bigger nuts.
◦ The dried fruit sampling plan would consider the produce characteristics.
III.
The Sampling plan will be cross-referenced with the OECD brochure on
inspection procedures.
The sampling plan would only be used for compliance with the quality criteria set out
in UNECE standards.
The Specialized Section plans to complete the sampling plans at its 2014 session.
SUMMARY
The Specialized Section on DDP submits to Working Party 7 the following:
For adoption as new and revised UNECE Standards:

Inshell walnuts
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/29

Whole dried chilli peppers
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/24

Inshell Brazil nuts
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/25

Brazil nut kernels
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/26

Dried mangoes
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/27

Cashew kernels
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/30

Pine nut kernels
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/31
For adoption as a new UNECE Recommendation for trial ending in 2014:

Dried Pineapples
ECE/TRADE/C/WP.7/2013/28
For extension of the trial period for one more year ending in 2014 the
recommendations for:

Dried Apricots

Dried Figs