CFR > Title 7 - Agriculture > SUBTITLE B—Regulations of the Department of Agriculture > CHAPTER I—AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Standards, Inspections, Marketing Practices), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (parts 27 to 206) > SUBCHAPTER C—REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT OF 1946 (parts 51 to 75) > PART 51—FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND OTHER PRODUCTS 1,2 (INSPECTION, CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS) > SUBPART —United States Standards for Grades of Potatoes 1 (§51.1540 to §51.1566) > 51.1546—Tolerances.

51.1546—Tolerances.

To allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the foregoing grades, the following tolerances by weight or equivalent basis, are provided as specified.
(a) For defects— (1) U.S. No. 1. A total of 8 percent for potatoes in any lot which fail to meet the requirements for the grade: Provided, that included in this tolerance not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
(A) 5 percent for external defects;
(B) 5 percent for internal defects;
(C) Including therein not more than 1 percent for potatoes which are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. See § 51.1547.
(ii) En route or at Destination. A total of 10 percent for potatoes in any lot which fail to meet the requirements for the grade: Provided, that included in this tolerance not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
(A) 7 percent for external defects;
(B) 7 percent for internal defects;
(C) Including therein not more than 2 percent for potatoes which are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. See § 51.1547.
(2) U.S. Commercial. A total of 20 percent for potatoes in any lot which fail to meet the requirements for the grade: Provided, that included in this tolerance not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
(i) 10 percent for potatoes which fail to meet the requirements for U.S. No. 2 grade, including therein not more than:
(ii) 6 percent for external defects;
(iii) 6 percent for internal defects; or,
(iv) Including therein not more than 1 percent for potatoes which are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. See § 51.1547.
(3) U.S. No. 2. (i) At Shipping Point: A total of 10 percent for potatoes in any lot which fail to meet the requirements for the grade: Provided, that included in this tolerance not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
(A) 6 percent for external defects;
(B) 6 percent for internal defects;
(C) Including therein not more than 1 percent for potatoes which are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. See § 51.1547.
(ii) En route or at Destination: A total of 12 percent for potatoes in any lot which fail to meet the requirements for the grade: Provided, that included in this tolerance not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
(A) 8 percent for external defects;
(B) 8 percent for internal defects;
(C) Including therein not more than 2 percent for potatoes which are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. See § 51.1547.
(b) For off-size. (1) Not more than 3 percent of the potatoes in any lot may be smaller than the required or specified minimum size except that a tolerance of 5 percent shall be allowed for potatoes packed to meet a minimum size of 2 1/4 inches or larger in diameter or 5 ounces or more in weight. In addition, not more than 10 percent may be larger than any required or specified maximum size. See § 51.1547.
(2) When a percentage of the potatoes is specified to be of a certain size and larger, individual samples shall have not less than one-half of the percentage specified: Provided, That the average for the entire lot is not less than the percentage specified.

Code of Federal Regulations

[35 FR 18258, Dec. 1, 1970. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981; amended at 56 FR 7553, Feb. 25, 1991; 73 FR 15055, Mar. 21, 2008; 73 FR 70585, Nov. 21, 2008]