General information
White or yellow maize is a cereal distributed in many food supply operations, as grain, grits or flour.
Whether maize should be white or yellow, or a variety, has to be determined considering beneficiaries’ food habits. Maize can also be red (not found in our operations).
Distribution of maize grains is prohibited by ICRC policies, to avoid planting GMO’s. Maize must always be distributed milled.
Milling should be processed only when a distribution date is known, to avoid long storage of milled products.
Shelf life of milled products is short, because the fat content becomes rancid and acidic, and a milled product is very sensitive to micro-biological contamination. Maize meal can be stored a few weeks or months only, depending on the climatic and storage conditions - check before milling.
Extraction rate when milling the grain can vary considerably. 75% is a first grade quality flour, 92% is cruder and will turn rancid or acidic very quickly, but is better nutritionally. When a fast use (a few weeks after milling) cannot be guaranteed, extraction of 75% is highly recommended.
The extraction can be performed on whole grains or degermed grains. Degermed grain flour will have a lower fat and mineral content. Whole grain flour will be better nutritionally.
Maize can be stored for a long period of time as whole grains, provided the storage is properly conducted (control, fumigation…). Storage location must be dry and well ventilated.
Fumigation of stocks and moving piles should be done at least every 3 months, and more often if needed. Stock rotation must be ensured on FEFO system (First Expired - First Out).
Specifications vary also with national regulations. Here below, we give our most commonly used specifications. Importation of food is always subject to acceptance from the national authorities, based on their national and ISO specifications; check these before purchasing.
Refer to HQ when offered specifications which are different from our standard specifications. The differences have to be approved by a food specialist.
Impact on the local, national, or regional market availability and prices should be carefully looked at before purchasing large quantities.
Specifications
Common part of specifications for all types of maize, to include in all contracts:
For all aspects of the product, unless described otherwise here below, the standard of Codex Alimentarius last edition applies, including packaging.
- Product must be fit for human consumption and be of sound, fair and marketable quality.
- The Cartagena Protocol (Biosafety Protocol, additional to the Convention of Biodiversity) requires that exporters/producers indicate whether food items may contain GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) or not.
- If supplied in grains, the product must not contain GMO’s.
- Check national specifications of recipient country.
The applicable control methods are:
- ISO 6540 Maize - determination of moisture content (for milled grains and whole grains).
- ICC 105 Determination of crude protein in cereals and cereal products for food and for feed.
- ISO 2171 Cereals and milled cereals products – determination of total ash.
- ISO 7305, AOAC 14022 Milled cereal products – determination of fat acidity.
- ICC 113, AOAC 7070 Determination of crude fibre value.
- ISO 5223. Test sieves for cereals, with 4.5mm sieve.
Product must be:
- In accordance with the present specifications.
- Free from abnormal flavour/odour and living insects/pests.
- From fresh production for a milled product (maximum 30 days old after milling at date of delivery).
- Delivered goods to be according to approved sample.
Analysis of microbiological, chemical or radiological contaminants, toxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues (see tables below) must certify the product is “fit for human consumption”. The supplier shall submit related Lab reports / Declarations.
MAIZE (corn), GRAIN
General specifications applicable worldwide
|
Moisture |
13.5% max. |
|
Other colour maize |
Max. 5% in yellow/2% in white |
|
Defective maize |
6% max. |
|
Broken grains |
5.5% max. |
|
Diseased grain |
0.5% max. |
|
Other grains |
2% max. |
|
Foreign matter |
0.5% max. |
|
Filth, dust, soil, dead insects |
0.1% max. |
|
Presence of Datura seeds and other toxic seeds or traces of tropane alkaloids |
Nil |
|
Weed, fungal/mould growth or yeast (visual inspection) |
Nil |
|
Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) |
Nil |
|
Radioactive residues/elements |
Nil |
|
Aflatoxin total |
4 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Zearalenone |
350 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Fumonisin B1,B2 |
4000 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) |
1750 microgram/kg max. |
European Community specifications applicable for purchases in the European Union
Specifications as per communication 2000/C312/01
|
Moisture |
14% max. |
|
Matter which is not basic cereals of unimpaired quality |
8% max. |
|
Broken grains |
4% max. (sieve 4.5mm) |
|
Grain impurities |
3% max. (includes grains of other cereals, grains damaged by pests and grains overheated during drying) |
|
Sprouted grains |
0.5% max. |
|
Miscellaneous impurities |
1% max. (includes weed seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter, husks, dead insects and insects fragment.) |
MAIZE (corn), GRITS
General specifications applicable worldwide
|
Moisture |
13% max. |
|
Acidity |
0.9% max. |
|
Fat |
Minimum 2 to maximum 2.5% |
|
Proteins |
8% min. (N x 6.25 of dry matter) |
|
Crude fibres |
0.8% max. |
|
Granularity |
100% through 1mm sieve. 50% max. through 0.3mm sieve |
|
Presence of Datura seeds and other toxic seeds or traces of tropane alkaloids |
Nil |
|
Aflatoxin total |
4 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Zearalenone |
300 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Fumonisin B1,B2 |
2000 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) |
1250 microgram/kg max. |
European Communities specifications applicable for purchases in the European Union
Specifications as per communication 2000/C312/01
|
Moisture |
13% max. |
|
Acidity |
0.6% max. |
|
Fat |
0.9% max. |
|
Crude cellulose |
0.6% max. of dry matter |
MAIZE (corn), FLOUR
General specifications applicable worldwide
Specifications as per communication 2000/C312/01
|
Moisture |
13% max. |
|
Acidity |
0.9% max. |
|
Fat |
Minimum 2 to maximum 2.5% |
|
Proteins |
8% min. (N x 6.25 of dry matter) |
|
Crude fibres |
0.8% max. |
|
Granularity |
95% min. through 0.85mm sieve |
|
Presence of Datura seeds and other toxic seeds or traces of tropane alkaloids |
Nil |
|
Aflatoxin total |
4 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Zearalenone |
300 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Fumonisin B1,B2 |
2000 micrograms/kg max. |
|
Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) |
1250 microgram/kg max. |
European Community specifications applicable for purchases in the European Union
Specifications as per communication 2000/C312/01
|
Moisture |
13% max. |
|
Acidity |
0.9% max. |
|
Fat |
1.3% max. |
|
Crude cellulose |
0.8% max. of dry matter |
Packing
Net weight 50kg per bag.
All bags must be clean, dry, undamaged and firmly sewn.
Recycled bags not allowed; recycled plastics for making bags not allowed.
Closing with double stitch at both ends of the bags.
Additional 2% empty spare bags (outer bag only if multiple packaging), with same marking.
Test as per EN276 for PP bags or EN 766 for jute bags: Bags should resist without any damage to one drop from 1.2 m high on the base and 2 drops on each side from 1.6m high.
Different types of packaging are possible. Choice of the right packaging depends on several factors, including the condition of transportation and handling.
a) New woven-polypropylene (PP) bag, weighing 120g/bag.
b) New woven-polypropylene (PP) bag, weighing 120g/bag, lined with the same 120g PP bag, with the top edges of the bags sewn together.
c) New jute bag, weighing 370g/bag lined with woven-polypropylene bag, weighing 110g/bag, with the top edges of the bags sewn together.
d) New cotton bag, weighing 180g/bag, lined with woven-polypropylene bag, weighing 110g/bag, with the top edges of the bags sewn together.
e) New composite jute/polypropylene bag weighting 335g/bag.
e) New jute bag weighing 600g/bag, for grain only.
f) In some special cases for flour only: paper bag of 1kg net weight content.
Pallet load
Shrink wrapped pallet, without covering the top of the pallet to let it breathe. Can also be secured with straps, to be re-tensioned regularly, as the flour will pack down during transport.
Shrink-wrap film must be removed at time of storing.
Fumigation
Commodities must have been fumigated a maximum of 30 days prior to departure date.
Fumigation products must come from licensed manufacturers and the supplier/retailer must be able to provide full certificate of analysis for the batch to be supplied.
Marking
Each bag to be marked with non-toxic ink, to remain readable after minimum 10 handling.
Name of the product must be "Maize(corn)", or "Maize(corn)flour", or "Maize(corn)grits"
Net weight in kg.
Date of milling for milled products.
Date of minimum durability, declared as "best before", for milled product.
Crop year for grains.
Minimum documentation required for quality assurance from the supplier
To be established by an official body:
- Certificate of inspection
- Certificate of origin, including crop year
- Health Certificate or Phytosanitary Certificate
- Weight and Quality Certificate
- Non-radioactivity Certificate
- Fumigation Certificate (when required)
- Certificate stating whether GMOs may be included in the product
- Certificate stating absence of GMOs in grain
Other documentation needs to be provided according to the purchase agreement.
Latest update: 15/05/2020