Company : Sol Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Website : www.courtkutchehry.com SEED POTATOES (GRADING AND MARKING) RULES, 1963 CONTENTS 1. Short title and application 2. Definitions 3. Grade Designation 4. Definition of Quality 5. Grade Designation Marks 6. Methods of Marking 7. Method of packing 8. Special conditions of certificate of authorisation SCHEDULE 1 :- SCHEDULE I SCHEDULE 2 :- SCHEDULE II SEED POTATOES (GRADING AND MARKING) RULES, 1963 In exercise of the powers conferred by Sec. 3 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (I of 1937), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, the same having been previously published as required by that section, namely:- 1. Short title and application :- (1) These rules may be called the Seed Potatoes (Grading and Marking) Rules, 1963. (2) They shall apply to Seed Potatoes (Solonum tuberosum) produced in India and meant for export. 2. Definitions :- In these rules, (a) "Agricultural Marketing Adviser" means the Agricultural Marketing Adviser to the Government of India; (b) 'Schedule' means a Schedule appended to these rules. 3. Grade Designation :- The grade designation to indicate the quality of seed potatoes shall be as set out in column I of Schedule II. 4. Definition of Quality :- The quality indicated by the grade designations shall be as set out against each grade designation in Schedule II. 5. Grade Designation Marks :- T h e grade designation mark shall consist of a label specifying the grade designation and bearing a design (consisting of an outline map of India with the word 'AGMARK' and the figure of the rising sun, with the words 'Produce of India' and" "resembling the one as set out in Schedule 1. 6. Methods of Marking :- (l) The grade designation mark shall be securely affixed to each container in a manner approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. (2) In addition to the grade designation mark, each container shall be clearly marked with such particulars and in such manner as may be specified by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. (3) An authorised packer may, after obtaining the prior approval of the Agricultural Marketing Adviser, mark his private trade mark on a container, in a manner approved by the said Officer provided that the private trade mark does not represent quality or grade of seed potatoes different from that indicated by the grade designation mark affixed to the container in accordance with these rules. 7. Method of packing :- (1) Only sound, clean and dry container made of jute or any other approved material shall be used for packing. They shall be free from any insect infestation or fungus contamination and also free from any undesirable smell. (2) The containers shall be securely closed and sealed in a manner approved by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. (3) Each package shall contain seed potatoes of one trade description and one grade designation only. 8. Special conditions of certificate of authorisation :- In addition to the conditions specified in rule 4 of the General (Grading and Marking) Rules, 1937, the following shall be the conditions of every Certificate of Authorisation issued for the purpose of these rules, namely :- (a) An authorised packer shall make such arrangements for testing seed potatoes as may be prescribed by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. (b) An authorised packer shall provide all facilities to the Inspecting Officers duly authorised by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser, for sampling, testing and such other matters, as may be specified by the Agricultural Marketing Adviser. SCHEDULE 1 SCHEDULE I (See rule 5) Design for the Grade designation mark. NOTE.-The Tamil and Telugu words will not occur in the labels in case where commodties are graded for the purpose of export. SCHEDULE 2 SCHEDULE II (See rule 3 and rule 4) Grade designation and definition of quality of seed potatoes produced in India ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ \ \ \ \ Definit ____________________________________________________________________________________ \ designa- \ min. \ \ \ Tolerance _______________________________________________________________________________________ in mm. \ \ Conformity to vari \Earth and/or \ \ \ \ \ \ Extraneous matter* _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ shall be rea- Tubers of varieties \ A tolerance of 10% \(1) Tubers having mecha- \The presence of \ \ sonably clean, healthy. \ other than \earth and other Medium \ 19 \ viable, reasonably firm \ fied on the label are \accidental erros in gra- ing signs of external \foreign matte extent \ding in respect of tub- \ damage shall not ex- \not exceed 2% by Small \ 13 \ racteristic shape, and \ of 5% by count as de- \ers colour of the variety. \ termined on the basis \the size specifications \ any representative \ \ \ Each tuber shall have \ of a representative \ sample. \ and/or higher grade. \(2) Superficial blemishes \ \ \ developed eyes. \ \ \ not affecting keeping \ \ \ \ \ \ quality shall not exc /4th of the \ \ \ \ \ \ total surface area on \ \ \ \ \ \ any tuber. \ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 'Where the tubers are certified by the Agricultural Department to be pedigreed and disease free, the fact would be indicated in the Grading in the case of seed potatoes raised in the plains and 52 mm. in the case of those raised in the hills shall not be permitted. In the latter cas greater mesh than 25 mm. the minimum size may, at the packers' discretion, be appended to the grade name, e.g., Large (size 32 m.m.). established by cutting open the tuber, shall be taken into account and potatoes having worm or slug holes penetrating into the flesh shall