The Sampling Plans in Appendix I of this document are intended primarily to cover the quality
provisions of Codex Commodity Standards where an AQL of 6.5 is appropriate for the defective unit as
defined in Codex Standards. For the purposes of these Sampling Plans, “quality” refers to those factors
or product characteristics which are evaluated by organoleptic or physical means, such as colour,
flavour, texture, defects, size and appearance. They are not intended however, to cover factors which
may represent a hazard to health or which are unwholesome or otherwise highly objectionable to the
consumer on the basis of which responsible authorities would reject the lot. Examples of these latter
categories are pesticide residues, contaminants, blown cans, foreign material such as stones and large
insects. Other criteria and sampling plans must be used in dealing with factors of this type. While these
Sampling Plans are intended primarily for quality evaluation, they may be found suitable for other
determinations such as net weight, Brix values and drained weight, provided an acceptance criterion
with an AQL of 6.5 is appropriate for these determinations. In this case a definition of “defective” for
the specific determination under consideration would be required in the respective Codex Standard.