Postharvest regulation and quality standards on fresh produce

The postharvest phase of fresh produce is tightly regulated in terms of food safety (heavy metals, chemical contamination, and microbiological) and quarantine issues and rather loosely regulated in terms of attributes related to eating quality. These regulations are imposed at international and national levels, and within (private sector) value chains. In this chapter, the use and abuse of these regulations is reviewed, in context of consumer or producer "good." As in all regulatory exercises, it is important that a common language is available, and the available languages are reviewed. Of these, Codex Alimentarius acts as a "common denominator" of food safety and quality specifications. However, specific value chains may regulate for higher levels of specification, for example, organic certification or GlobalGAP certification. The particular issue of eating quality is considered further in terms of available specifications and the drivers for adoption of standards based on these specifications.