Florida Regulations 20-39.019: Stamping or Labeling of Fruit and Containers
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
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(1) Content: When citrus fruit is shipped in any container, the contents, in terms of minimum numerical count or weight or the volume content in terms of bushels, standard shipping boxes or fractions thereof, shall be stamped or printed thereon, or on a tag attached to, or inserted in, the container.
(a) Weight: When citrus fruit is packed in containers, it shall be sufficient if the weight only is stamped on the container.
(b) Size: Where content is labeled by size and count, it shall be sufficient if the size only is stamped on the container, unless the count is different from that indicated by the size, in which case both the minimum count and size shall be stamped on the container.
(c) Bags: If citrus fruit is shipped in bags stamped or printed to indicate the contents in terms of a fractional box, and the bag, or an attached or inserted tag, indicates the size of fruit, the count of fruit in the bag shall not be less than the fractional part of the standard shipping box count for the size fruit indicated on the bag.
(2) Grade – Boxes.
(a) When citrus fruit is sold, shipped or offered for sale or shipment by common carrier or otherwise, enclosed in any container, it shall be sufficient if the grade be conspicuously stamped on the closed container in plainly legible bold-face type.
(b) The shipper or seller using closed containers, instead of marking the grade on the container, shall have the option of using brands or trademarks which are registered with the Department of Citrus to represent specific grades. Whenever the label to be used to represent the grade is not placed on the container before or at the time the container is filled, the grade shall be stamped on the container, utilizing the space where the label will be placed if desired.
(3) Name and Address of Shipper, Coding and Records – Boxes.
(a) The packing house registration number or the name and Florida address of a registered shipper or licensed citrus fruit dealer that packs or distributes the fruit, shall be clearly and permanently indicated on the container, in plainly legible bold-face type.
(b) All shippers and packers shall maintain sufficient coding of all containers and shall prepare and maintain product coding and distribution records, in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 20-40.001, to facilitate effective product recall and identification of the packinghouse that physically packed the fruit. Such records will be available to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture upon request.
(4) Grade and Name and Address of Shipper – Bags.
(a) When bags are used as containers for the sale or shipment of citrus fruit, the grade of the fruit and the name and address of the shipper must be printed or stamped on each bag, or on a proper tag attached to or inserted in the bag. If a brand or trademark is used on the bag, attached tag or inserted tag, to represent the grade, such brand or trademark must be reproduced the same as it is registered with the Department of Citrus for grade purposes.
(b) Type size used to indicate the grade or brand name shall be plainly legible. Type size used to indicate the name and address of the shipper shall be plainly legible.
(5) Designation of Origin.
No labeling may be used that indicates any state other than Florida as the origin of the fruit.
Rulemaking Authority 601.10(1), (7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.091, 601.10(7), 601.11, 601.45 FS. History-New 6-24-18.
(b) Size: Where content is labeled by size and count, it shall be sufficient if the size only is stamped on the container, unless the count is different from that indicated by the size, in which case both the minimum count and size shall be stamped on the container.
(c) Bags: If citrus fruit is shipped in bags stamped or printed to indicate the contents in terms of a fractional box, and the bag, or an attached or inserted tag, indicates the size of fruit, the count of fruit in the bag shall not be less than the fractional part of the standard shipping box count for the size fruit indicated on the bag.
(2) Grade – Boxes.
(a) When citrus fruit is sold, shipped or offered for sale or shipment by common carrier or otherwise, enclosed in any container, it shall be sufficient if the grade be conspicuously stamped on the closed container in plainly legible bold-face type.
(b) The shipper or seller using closed containers, instead of marking the grade on the container, shall have the option of using brands or trademarks which are registered with the Department of Citrus to represent specific grades. Whenever the label to be used to represent the grade is not placed on the container before or at the time the container is filled, the grade shall be stamped on the container, utilizing the space where the label will be placed if desired.
(3) Name and Address of Shipper, Coding and Records – Boxes.
(a) The packing house registration number or the name and Florida address of a registered shipper or licensed citrus fruit dealer that packs or distributes the fruit, shall be clearly and permanently indicated on the container, in plainly legible bold-face type.
(b) All shippers and packers shall maintain sufficient coding of all containers and shall prepare and maintain product coding and distribution records, in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 20-40.001, to facilitate effective product recall and identification of the packinghouse that physically packed the fruit. Such records will be available to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture upon request.
(4) Grade and Name and Address of Shipper – Bags.
(a) When bags are used as containers for the sale or shipment of citrus fruit, the grade of the fruit and the name and address of the shipper must be printed or stamped on each bag, or on a proper tag attached to or inserted in the bag. If a brand or trademark is used on the bag, attached tag or inserted tag, to represent the grade, such brand or trademark must be reproduced the same as it is registered with the Department of Citrus for grade purposes.
(b) Type size used to indicate the grade or brand name shall be plainly legible. Type size used to indicate the name and address of the shipper shall be plainly legible.
(5) Designation of Origin.
No labeling may be used that indicates any state other than Florida as the origin of the fruit.
Rulemaking Authority 601.10(1), (7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.091, 601.10(7), 601.11, 601.45 FS. History-New 6-24-18.