Grades and Requirements for Potatoes
Application
176. The grades and requirements set out in sections 177 to 180 apply to potato varieties grown
from Solanum tuberosum, potatoes for seed being excluded.
Grades and Grade Names
177. The grades and grade names for potatoes are Canada No. 1 and Canada No. 2.
Requirements for All Grades
178. (1) In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the tolerances set out in
section 181, potatoes of all grades must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) be not artificially coloured;
• (c) have similar varietal characteristics;
• (d) be free from damage caused by freezing;
• (e) be free from bacterial ring rot, black heart or other decay;
• (f) be free from insects or worms within the flesh of a potato; and
• (g) if the potatoes are packaged in cartons, meet the following requirements in respect of
diameter, weight or count, namely,
o (i) if the cartons are labelled with
▪ (A) a count designation, the potatoes must have a minimum diameter as set
out in paragraph 179(2)(i) or (j) or 180(2)(h), according to the variety and
grade of the potatoes, or
▪ (B) one of the size designations set out in Column 1 of an item of the Table of
Minimum and Maximum Weights for Potato Size Designations, the potatoes
must meet the minimum weight and maximum weight requirements set out
in Columns 2 and 3 respectively of that item,
o (ii) not more than 10% of the cartons may contain not more than 5% fewer or more
potatoes than the count designation shown on the label, and
o (iii) if the potatoes are packaged in cartons that are labelled with the designation
“283 g minimum” or “10 oz minimum”, the potatoes have a minimum weight of 283
g (10 oz).
(2) Despite paragraph (1)(c), potatoes meeting the requirements in respect of diameter set out in
clauses 179(2)(i)(i)(A) and (iii)(A), in packages of 1.36 kg (3 lb) or less, or 2.27 kg (5 lb), may be of
different varietal characteristics if packaged in approximately equal proportions.
Table of Minimum and Maximum Weights for Potato Size Designations
Item Column 1
Size Designation
Column 2
Minimum Weight
Column 3
Maximum Weight
1. Under 50 425 g (15 oz)
2. 50 340 g (12 oz) 539 g (19 oz)
3. 60 283 g (10 oz) 454 g (16 oz)
4. 70 255 g (9 oz) 425 g (15 oz)
5. 80 227 g (8 oz) 369 g (13 oz)
6. 90 198 g (7 oz) 340 g (12 oz)
7. 100 170 g (6 oz) 283 g (10 oz)
8. 110 142 g (5 oz) 255 g (9 oz)
9. 120 and over 113 g (4 oz) 227 g (8 oz)
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
179. (1) In this section, “reasonably clean” means
• (a) the potatoes are reasonably free from dirt, and
• (b) if the potatoes are in a package, there is not more than a slight amount of loose dirt or
foreign material in the package. (raisonnablement propres)
(2) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 178, potatoes graded
Canada No. 1 must
• (a) be reasonably clean;
• (b) be not materially pointed, materially dumb-bell shaped or otherwise materially
deformed;
• (c) not have more than one knob removed, if
o (i) the area affects more than 5% of the surface area, or
o (ii) the affected area is rough or jagged;
• (d) be free from any individual or clusters of sprouts that at the time of shipping or
repackaging
o (i) exceed 6 mm (¼ inch) in length, and
o (ii) affect more than 5% of the potatoes in a lot;
• (e) be free from any individual or clusters of sprouts that at a time other than at the time of
shipping or repackaging
o (i) exceed 13 mm (½ inch) in length, and
o (ii) affect more than 5% of the potatoes in a lot;
• (f) be not shrivelled or flabby;
• (g) be free from greening that
o (i) penetrates the flesh of a potato to a depth that when removed causes a loss of
more than 5% of the total weight of the potato, or
o (ii) affects more than 25% of the surface area of a potato;
• (h) except in the case of new potatoes shipped before September 16 in the year in which
they were grown, have skins that will not loosen readily during ordinary handling and have
not more than 10% of the surface flesh exposed;
• (i) subject to paragraph (j), meet the following requirements in respect of diameter or
weight, namely,
o (i) in the case of a round variety of potatoes,
▪ (A) if the potatoes are labelled with the size designation “38 mm to 57 mm”
or “1 ½ inches to 2 ¼ inches” or with the words “Small Round”, and are
packaged in containers of 1.36 kg (3 lb) or less, 2.27 kg (5 lb), 22.7 kg (50 lb),
34 kg (75 lb) or 45.4 kg (100 lb), or in the case of prepackaged potatoes other
than consumer prepackaged potatoes, in containers of 50 kg (110 lb), the
potatoes must have a minimum diameter of 38 mm (1 ½ inches) and a
maximum diameter of 57 mm (2 ¼ inches), and
▪ (B) if clause A does not apply, the potatoes must have
• (I) a minimum diameter of 57 mm (2 ¼ inches) and a maximum
diameter of 89 mm (3 ½ inches), or
• (II) a minimum weight of 142 g (5 ounces) and a maximum weight of
340 g (12 ounces),
o (ii) in the case of a long variety of potatoes,
▪ (A) if the potatoes are labelled with the size designation “38 mm to 51 mm”
or “1 ½ inches to 2 inches”, or with the words “Small Long”, and are
packaged in containers of 1.36 kg (3 lb) or less, 2.27 kg (5 lb), 22.7 kg (50 lb),
34 kg (75 lb) or 45.4 kg (100 lb) or in the case of prepackaged potatoes other
than consumer prepackaged potatoes, in containers of 50 kg (110 lb), the
potatoes must have a minimum diameter of 38 mm (1 ½ inches) and a
maximum diameter of 51 mm (2 inches), except that in the case of long nonrusset varieties, the potatoes may have a maximum diameter of 57 mm (2 ¼
inches) if the potatoes are labelled with the words “Non-Russet” in addition
and in close proximity to the size designation “38 mm to 57 mm” or “1 ½
inches to 2 ¼ inches” or to the words “Small Long”, and
▪ (B) if clause (A) does not apply, the potatoes
• (I) must have a minimum diameter of 51 mm (2 inches) or a
minimum weight of 113 g (4 ounces) and a maximum diameter of 89
mm (3 ½ inches) or a maximum weight of 340 g (12 ounces), except
that potatoes 89 mm (3 ½ inches) or more in length may have a
minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ inches) and, in either case, at least
60%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot must have a diameter of at
least 57 mm (2 ¼ inches) or a weight of at least 142 g (5 ounces), or
• (II) if the potatoes are labelled with the size designation “48 mm to
76 mm” or “1 ⅞ inches to 3 inches” and are being sent from one
province to another, the potatoes must have a minimum diameter of
48 mm (1 ⅞ inches) and a maximum diameter of 76 mm (3 inches),
or a maximum weight of 283 g (10 ounces), and at least 75%, by
weight, of the potatoes in the lot have a diameter of at least 51 mm
(2 inches) or a weight of at least 113 g (4 ounces), and
o (iii) if the potatoes
▪ (A) are of any variety and are labelled with the size designation “19 mm to 41
mm” or “¾ inch to 1 ⅝ inches”, or with the word “Creamer”, the potatoes
must have a minimum diameter of 19 mm (¾ inch) and a maximum diameter
of 41 mm (1 ⅝ inches),
▪ (B) are of any variety and are labelled with the size designation “70 mm to
114 mm” or “2 ¾ inches to 4 ½ inches” or with the word “Chef”, the potatoes
must have
• (I) a minimum diameter of 70 mm (2 ¾ inches) and a maximum
diameter of 114 mm (4 ½ inches), or
• (II) a minimum weight of 227 g (8 ounces) and a maximum weight of
794 g (28 ounces); or
▪ (C) are of any variety and are labelled with the size designation “76 mm to
114 mm” or “3 inches to 4 ½ inches” or with the word “Large”, the potatoes
must have
• (I) a minimum diameter of 76 mm (3 inches) and a maximum
diameter of 114 mm (4 ½ inches), or
• (II) a minimum weight of 283 g (10 ounces) and a maximum weight
of 794 g (28 ounces);
• (j) in the case of new potatoes, meet the requirements in respect of diameter or weight that
are set out in paragraph (i), except that new potatoes required by that paragraph to have a
minimum diameter of 51 mm (2 inches) or a minimum weight of 113 g (4 ounces), or a
minimum diameter of 57 mm (2 ¼ inches) or a minimum weight of 142 g (5 ounces), may
have a minimum diameter of 48 mm (1 ⅞ inches) if the new potatoes are
o (i) of a round variety and are sent before October 1 in the year in which they were
grown, or
o (ii) of a long variety and are sent before July 1 in the year in which they were grown;
• (k) be free from blight;
• (l) be free from surface scab affecting more than 5% of the surface area of a potato;
• (m) be free from sunburn that, when removed, causes a loss of more than 5% of the weight
of the potato;
• (n) be free from wireworm or grass root holes that
o (i) affect the flesh of the potato, and
o (ii) when removed, causes a loss of more than 5% of the weight of the potato;
• (o) be free from any of the following types of damage that materially affect the appearance
of a potato, namely,
o (i) enlarged lenticels,
o (ii) russet scab,
o (iii) rhizoctonia,
o (iv) growth cracks, and
o (v) external discolouration;
• (p) be free from any of the following types of damage that cannot be removed without the
loss of more than 5% of the weight of a potato, namely,
o (i) internal discolouration, and
o (ii) ingrown sprouts;
• (q) be free from any of the following types of damage that materially affect the appearance
of a potato or cannot be removed without the loss of more than 5% of the weight of a
potato, namely,
o (i) bruises,
o (ii) air cracks,
o (iii) pitted scab, and
o (iv) flea-beetle damage;
• (r) be free from hollow heart that
o (i) affects an area more than that of a circle of 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter in a
potato 63 mm (2 ½ inches) in diameter or 170 g (6 ounces) in weight, and
o (ii) in the case of a potato that has a greater or lesser diameter or weight than that
set out in subparagraph (i), affects an area that exceeds that of a circle of a diameter
that is proportional to the diameter or weight of the potato, set out in that
subparagraph;
• (s) be free from any damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that materially
affects the appearance of a potato, including healed-over flesh, rhizoctonia or silver scurf;
and
• (t) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that
o (i) affects the edibility or shipping quality of the potatoes, or
o (ii) affects the flesh of a potato and cannot be removed without the loss of more
than 5% of the weight of the potato.
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
180. (1) In this section, “slightly dirty” means
• (a) there is an appreciable amount of dirt adhering to the potatoes; and
• (b) if the potatoes are in a package, there is not more than a moderate amount of loose dirt
or foreign material in the package.
(2) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 178, potatoes graded
Canada No. 2 must
• (a) be not more than slightly dirty;
• (b) be not seriously pointed, seriously dumb-bell shaped or otherwise seriously deformed;
• (c) be free from any individual or clusters of sprouts that at the time of shipping or
repackaging
o (i) exceed 13 mm (½ inch) in length, and
o (ii) affect more than 10% of the potatoes in the lot;
• (d) be free from any individual or clusters of sprouts that at a time other than at the time of
shipping or repackaging
o (i) exceed 25 mm (1 inch) in length, and
o (ii) affect more than 10% of the potatoes in the lot;
• (e) have not had their appearance materially affected by the removal of knobs;
• (f) be free from greening that
o (i) penetrates the flesh of a potato to a depth that when removed causes a loss of
more than 10% of the total weight of the potato, or
o (ii) affects more than 50% of the surface area of a potato;
• (g) be reasonably firm;
• (h) have a minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ inches) and a maximum diameter of 114 mm (4
½ inches) or a maximum weight of 794 g (28 ounces) with not less than 75% by weight of the
potatoes in the lot having a diameter of at least 51 mm (2 inches) or a weight of at least 113
g (4 ounces);
• (i) be free from blight that
o (i) is not dry, or
o (ii) is dry but cannot be removed without the loss of more than 5% of the weight of a
potato;
• (j) be free from surface scab that affects more than 25% of the surface area of a potato;
• (k) be free from wireworm or grass root holes that affect the flesh of a potato and cannot be
removed without the loss of more than 10% of the weight of the potato;
• (l) be free from any of the following types of damage that seriously affect the appearance of
a potato, namely,
o (i) enlarged lenticels,
o (ii) russet scab,
o (iii) rhizoctonia,
o (iv) growth cracks, and
o (v) external discolouration;
• (m) be free from any of the following types of damage that cannot be removed without the
loss of more than 10% of the weight of a potato, namely,
o (i) sunburn,
o (ii) internal discolouration, and
o (iii) ingrown sprouts;
• (n) be free from any of the following types of damage that seriously affect the appearance of
a potato or cannot be removed without the loss of more than 10% of the weight of the
potato, namely,
o (i) bruises,
o (ii) air cracks,
o (iii) pitted scab, and
o (iv) flea-beetle damage;
• (o) be free from hollow heart that
o (i) affects an area more than that of a circle of 19 mm (¾ inch) in diameter in a
potato 63 mm (2 ½ inches) in diameter or 170 g (6 ounces) in weight, and
o (ii) in the case of a potato that has a greater or lesser diameter or weight than that
set out in subparagraph (i), affects an area that exceeds that of a circle of a diameter
that is proportional to the diameter or weight of the potato, set out in that
subparagraph;
• (p) be free from any other damage or defect or a combination of damage and defects that
o (i) seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the potatoes, or
o (ii) affects the flesh of a potato and cannot be removed without the loss of more
than 10% of the weight of the potato.
General Tolerances
181. (1) In the grading of potatoes into Canada No. 1 grade, the requirements set out in sections 178
and 179, as applicable, are considered to be met in the case of a lot of potatoes if not more than
• (a) 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot have more than 10% of the surface flesh
exposed;
• (b) 3%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are smaller than the required or specified
minimum size, or, in the case of potatoes packaged to meet a minimum size of 57 mm (2 ¼
inches) or larger in diameter or 142 grams (5 ounces) or more in weight, 5%, by weight, of
the potatoes in the lot are smaller than the required or specified size;
• (c) 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are larger than any required or specified
maximum size; and
• (d) in the case of a lot of potatoes inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging,
o (i) 5%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are affected by sprouts; and
o (ii) 8%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot have defects other than sprouts and
those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) including not more than
▪ (A) 5% that are affected by external defects,
▪ (B) 5% that are affected by internal defects, and
▪ (C) 1% that are affected by decay; and
• (e) in the case of a lot of potatoes inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or
repackaging, 8%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot have permanent defects other than
those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) including not more than
o (i) 5% that are affected by external defects that are permanent, and
o (ii) 5% that are affected by internal defects that are permanent.
(2) In the grading of potatoes into Canada No. 2 grade, the requirements set out in sections 178 and
180, as applicable, are considered to be met in the case of a lot of potatoes if not more than
• (a) 3%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are smaller than the required or specified
minimum size, or, in the case of potatoes packaged to meet a minimum size of 57 mm (2 ¼
inches) or larger in diameter or 142 grams (5 ounces) or more in weight, 5%, by weight, of
the potatoes in the lot are smaller than the required or specified size;
• (b) 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are larger than any required or specified
maximum size;
• (c) in the case of a lot of potatoes inspected at the time of shipping or repacking,
o (i) 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot are affected by sprouts; and
o (ii) 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot have defects other than sprouts and
those referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), including not more than
▪ (A) 6% that are affected by external defects,
▪ (B) 6% that are affected by internal defects, and
▪ (C) 1% that are affected by decay; and
• (d) in the case of a lot of potatoes inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or
repackaging, 10%, by weight, of the potatoes in the lot have permanent defects other than
those referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), including not more than
o (i) 6% that are affected by external defects that are permanent, and
o (ii) 6% that are affected by internal defects that are permanent.
(3) Condition defects only apply against the grade of a lot of potatoes when the lot is inspected at the
time of shipping or repacking.
