Minimum Requirements for Trade

Internal Quality

It is mandatory to pretreat Anthurium in water with a pretreatment product which includes the active ingredient sodium dichloroisocyanurate (code 11 on the product's label). Dosage: 1 tablet per 3 liters, according to the legal instructions for use on the label. 

External Quality

• The minimum maturity criterion for Anthurium is that all stems in a lot must have a fully opened bract;

• The minimum criterion is the following relationship between flower diameter and stem length:

Quality and Grading Criteria

Quality and Grading Criteria

The following requirement applies additionally: the lot must be free of bracts with bluish discolouration (a result of cold exposure). Overview 1 in the general regulations for Cut Flowers applies to this requirement.

Anthurium should be graded by:

• Length;

• Flower diameter;

• Maturity;

• Flower colour.

When grading by flower diameter, the following applies:

• Grading is done by classes in conformance with overview 1.

• The flower diameter grading during processing is reported using grading code S23. The diameter of the smallest bract in the lot, rounded down, is given. 

Overview 1 grading by flower diameter

Grading codes overview

S20 = Minimum stem length

S23 = Minimum flower diameter

S05 = Stage of maturity

S50 = Flower colour

S34 = Minimum leaf diameter
L11 = Number of stems per bunch

A lot of Cut flowers may be designated ‘mixed’ if at least 2 clearly distinguishable colors/shapes per bunch or per packaged unit are present. One color or shape can form no more than 50% of the number of cutflowers in the lot (for ‘2 mixed a ratio of 50/50 applies). The mix ratio between reciprocal the bunches and the packaging units in each lot should be uniform.

Packing Requirements

• Each stem of Anthurium must be in a bottle with clean water, but the stem must not be pushed down to the bottom of the bottle, there must be at least 1 cm of space between the end of the stem and the wall of the bottle;
• When packing them in a box, the stem packed in last should be marked with red tape;
• When supplying Anthurium in a sleeve, the sleeve should be secured so that the stems do not shift when the sleeve is picked up;
• When packing Anthurium in flowpack, it is mandatory to:
  • Use anti-condensation film approved by the auctions. The auction can provide information about which suppliers have stocks of this film;
  • Use bottoms fitted with adhesive strips (swirl);
  • Stick the bags firmly to the adhesive strips;
  • Use paper tape for bunches;
  • Make the lot recognisable by adding the positive inspection code “Flowpack” (code 8 in quality code P02) on the delivery form.

Anthurium, with the exception of bunched Anthurium, should be supplied in boxes in conformance with Overview 2.

 

Overview 2 Loading of Anthurium (with the exception of bunched Anthurium)

*this specifies a minimum number instead of a set number per box

When supplying bunched Anthurium:

• Each bunch should contain 3 flower stems;
• Each bunch should be packed in a plastic sleeve;
• An Anthurium leaf should be added to each bunch;
• The Anthurium leaf should also have its own bottle of water;
• Supply and loading should conform to Overview 3;
• Damaged Anthurium should be supplied in the multi-use box with packaging code 519.

Supply of bunched Anthurium in vertical boxes is permitted.

Overview 3 Loading of bunched Anthurium

Recommendations

• It is advisable to pack the flower in a protective bag;
• It is advisable to keep the bags as small as possible when packing Anthurium in flowpack, at most 5 cm longer than the top and bottom of the bunch;
• It is advisable to tape the bottle to the box to prevent damage.