General information
Edible refined vegetable oils.
Raw material must be sourced from responsible farming sources (RSPO certified farms).
Products must be fit for human consumption, free from unpleasant odour and taste and be of sound, fair and marketable quality.
Products must be free from any objectionable matter; not contain any substances originating from micro-organisms or any other poisonous or deleterious substances such as anti-nutritional factors, heavy metals or pesticide residues, in amounts which may represent a hazard to health.
A lot of attention must be paid to the quality of the packaging. Oil is the product where most leakage problems occur.
Impact on local, national, or regional market availability and prices should be reviewed before purchasing large quantities.
Product shall be free of visual fungal/mould growth or yeast.
The product must not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and be free from radioactive residues/elements. It cannot contain any substances originating from micro-organisms or any other poisonous or deleterious substances such as anti-nutritional factors, heavy metals, pesticide residues or toxins in amounts which may represent a hazard to health, in particular mineral oils. Analysis of microbiological, chemical contaminant, toxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues must certify the product is “fit for human consumption”. The supplier shall submit related Lab reports / Declarations.
Oil should always be bought in litres. One kg of oil makes different quantities as each oil has its own specific weight, and always make more than 1 litre (palm oil 890g/l, soyabean oil 920g/l, rape seed oil 912g/l, sunflower oil 922g/l, at 20°C).
Import of food is always subject to acceptance from national authorities, based on national and/or internationally accepted guidelines; suppliers must be able to verify if product can be supplied in line with requested specifications.
Palm Olein. This oil is the result of the fractioning of palm oil into palm olein and stearin. Palm olein is sold as an RBD product, meaning “Refined, Bleached and Deodorized”. Whereas refined palm oil will usually be viscous, palm olein will be liquid at room temperature.
Virgin Olive oil. Virgin olive oils are obtained from the fruit of the olive tree solely by mechanical or other physical means under conditions, particularly thermal conditions, that do not lead to alterations in the oil and which have not undergone any treatment other than washing, decanting, centrifuging and filtration. No additives are permitted. The general aspect of the oil should be clear oil, of a yellow to green colour, with specific odour and taste, free from odours or tastes indicating alteration or pollution of the oil.
Specifications
For all aspects of the products, unless described otherwise here below, the standard of Codex Alimentarius last edition applies, including the packaging.
Below, you will find the most commonly used specifications. Please refer to HQ when offered specifications differ from the standard specifications. These will need to be approved by a food specialist prior to purchase.
Products must be:
- In accordance with the present specifications.
- Free from abnormal flavour/odour and living insects/pests.
- Expiry date: Minimum 1 year at date of delivery.
- Delivered goods to be according to approved sample.
PALM OLEIN
|
Colour (Lovibond 5 1/4" cell) |
Red 3 max./Yellow 30 max. |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Mix of other type of oil |
Nil |
|
Moisture and volatile matter |
0.2% maximum |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% max. |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.1 max. expressed as palmitic acid |
|
Acid value |
0.6% KOH mg/1g oil max. |
|
Peroxide value |
2 milliequivalents peroxide oxygen/kg oil max. |
|
Melting point |
24°C max. |
|
Soap content |
0.005% max. |
|
Saponification value |
194 - 202 mg KOH/g of oil |
|
Unsaponifiable matter |
1.3% max. |
|
Iodine number (Wijs) |
>= 56g per 100g oil |
|
Palmitic acid |
38 to 43.5% of total fatty acids present |
|
Cholesterol |
Not more than 4% of total sterol content |
|
Oleic acid |
39.8 to 46% of total fatty acids present |
|
Refractive Index (n°40/D) |
1.458 - 1.460 |
|
Relative Density (40°C/water at 20°C) |
0.889 - 0.920 |
|
Authorised additives |
Max. 75mg of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) per kg of oil |
|
Vitamin A enrichment |
45 000 – 60 000 IU / litre |
|
Heavy metals
|
|
|
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
|
|
|
Radionuclide contamination |
None |
|
Production |
Fresh production |
|
Expiry date |
Minimum 2 years at date of delivery |
RAPESEED OIL E.U. Specifications C 312/12 31.10.2000
|
Water and volatile matter |
0.2% max. |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% max. |
|
Soap |
0.005% max. |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.15 max. expressed as oleic acid |
|
Erucic acid |
5% max. of total fatty acids present |
|
Brassicasterol |
5-13% of total sterol content |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Specific weight at 20C° |
0.910 - 0.92g/cm³ |
|
Refractive index at 40C° |
1.465 - 1.469 |
|
Authorised additives |
Max. 75mg of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) per kg of oil |
|
Peroxide number |
Max. 10 milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg of oil or Max. 2 milliequivalents in case of supply ex works or free at port of shipment |
|
Vitamin A enrichment |
60 000 IU/L |
|
|
|
SOYBEAN OIL
|
Appearance at ambient temperature |
Clear and shining |
|
Water and volatile matters |
0.2% maximum |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% maximum |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.15% maximum, expressed as oleic acid |
|
Colour Lovibond |
5 1/4" (red/yellow) max. 1.5/15 |
|
Soap |
0.005% maximum |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Peroxide number maximum |
10 milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg of oil (max. 2 milliequivalents in case of supply ex works or free at port of shipment) |
|
Specific weight at 20°C |
0.919 - 0.925g/cm³ |
|
Refractive index at 40°C |
1.466 - 1.47 |
|
Iodine number (Wijs) |
125- 140 g/100g |
|
Authorised additives |
Max. 75mg of butylated per kg of oil hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) |
|
Expiry date |
1 year minimum |
|
Vitamin A enrichment |
60 000 IU/L |
REFINED SUNFLOWER OIL
|
Colour |
The oil shall be transparent without any sediment |
|
Organoleptic |
Visual appearance: clear
Odour: light, free from abnormal smell or taste |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Mix of other type of oil/mineral oil |
Nil |
|
Moisture and volatile elements |
0.2% maximum |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% max. |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.15 max. expressed as oleic acid |
|
Acid value |
0.6 mg KOH/g oil max. |
|
Iodine Value |
118-141 |
|
Linoleic acids (C 18.2) |
48.3 - 74% max. of total fatty acids |
|
Delta-7-stigmasterol |
6.5 - 20% of total sterol content (if this fails, then test for brassicasterol, campesterol, campestanol, sitosterol, sitostanol) |
|
Brassicasterol |
0.5% of total sterol content |
|
Soap content |
0.005% max. |
|
Peroxide number |
2 milliequivalents max. of active oxygen/kg of oil |
|
Relative Density at 20°C |
0.918 - 0.923 g/cm3 |
|
Refractive index at 40°C |
1.461 - 1.468 |
|
Authorized additives |
75 mg (max.) of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) per kg of oil |
|
Vitamin A fortification |
45 000 - 60 000 IU/kg |
|
Heavy metals
|
To be provided by supplier for crude oil used
|
|
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
|
Optional: an environmental parameter, can be used for testing when product is being sourced from a factory for the 1st time |
|
Brand |
To be indicated |
|
Origin |
To be indicated |
|
Production |
Fresh production |
VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
|
Type |
Virgin oil |
|
Moisture and volatile elements |
0.2% maximum |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.1% max. |
|
Saponification value (mg KOH/g oil) |
184 - 196 |
|
Relative density ( 20°c/water at 20 °C) |
0.910 - 0.916 |
|
Refractive Index |
1.4677 - 1.4705 |
|
Unsaponifiable matter |
15 g/kg max. |
|
Iodine value |
75 - 94 |
|
Mix with other type of oil(s) |
Not allowed |
|
Acidity expressed as oleic acid |
≤ 2 grams per 100 grams |
|
Peroxide number O2/kg at port of shipment |
≤20 MEQ of active oxygen/Kg oil |
|
Waxes |
≤ 250 mg/Kg |
|
Stigmastadiene |
≤ 0.15 mg/Kg |
|
Colour
- Absorbency in ultra violet K232 nm
- Absorbency in ultra violet K270 nm
|
|
|
Free fatty acids
- Saturated fatty acids position 2 of triglyceride
- Translolenic + translinolenic isomers
|
- 55 – 83% of total fatty acid
- 3.5 – 21% of total fatty acid
- ≤ 1.5% ( sum of palmitic & stearic acids)
Other Fatty Acids to be tested if these go out of range
- ≤ 0.05% of total fatty acid
- ≤ 0.05% of total fatty acid
|
|
Total sterols
|
|
|
Heavy metals
|
To be tested by the Supplier and lab results to be submitted
|
|
Microbiology
- Total plate count for aerobic bacteria/germs
|
|
|
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
|
Compulsory for new manufacturers, and when possible industrial activity around factory |
|
Net weight |
1 Litre |
|
Brand |
To be indicated |
|
Origin |
To be indicated |
|
Shelf life |
24 months |
REFINED MAIZE OIL E.U. Specifications:(C312/1331.10.2000)
|
Water and volatile matter |
0.2% max. |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% max |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.15 max. expressed as oleic acid |
|
Linoleic acid |
50-62 % max. of total fatty acids present |
|
Oleic acid |
35 % max. of total fatty acids present |
|
Palmitic acid |
8-14 % max. of total fatty acids present |
|
Iodine number (Wijs) |
103-128 g/100g |
|
Colour (Lovibond 5&fraq14;" cell) |
Red/yellow 3/25 maximum |
|
Soap |
0.005% max. |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Peroxide number |
Max. 10 milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg of oil or max. 2 milliequivalents in case of supply ex works or free at port of shipment |
|
Specific weight at 20C° |
0.917-0.925g/cm³ |
|
Refractive index at 40C° |
1.465 - 1.468 |
|
Authorised additives |
Max. 75mg of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) per kg of oil |
|
Vitamin A enrichment |
60 000 IU/L |
GROUNDNUT OIL
|
Water and volatile matter |
0.2% max. |
|
Insoluble impurities |
0.05% max. |
|
Free fatty acids |
0.15 max. expressed as oleic acid |
|
Linolenic acid |
0.5% max. of total fatty acids present |
|
Delta-7-stigmasterol |
Minimum 9% of total sterol content |
|
Brassicasterol |
0.5% of total sterol content |
|
Soap |
0.005% max. |
|
Foreign odours and flavours |
Nil |
|
Peroxide number |
Max. 10 milliequivalents of active oxygen/kg of oil or max. 2 milliequivalents in case of supply ex works or free at port of shipment |
|
Specific weight at 20C° |
0.918 - 0.923g/cm³ |
|
Refractive index at 40C° |
1.465 - 1.469 |
|
Authorised additives |
Max. 75mg of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT-E-321) per kg of oil |
|
Vitamin A enrichment |
60 000 IU/L |
Primary packaging
In food grade PET (Polyethylene terephtalate) (or metal) bottles, hermetically sealed, of 1l, 3l or 5l according to the order.
Bottles to have caps with tamper-proof devices. Weight of empty 1L plastic bottles: 28.5g minimum. Supply in tin without cap (to open by piercing) not accepted.
Impermeability: No leakage under the pressure of 6 m high stacking.
Impact tests to be carried out on multiple packs ready for supply.
Secondary packaging
The one litre PET bottles of oil to be packed in cartons containing 12 x 1L or 15 x 1L bottles.
Containers to be separated from each other with cardboard inside the boxes.
The carton of double corrugation, export quality, to withstand stacking 6m high for 6 month without deterioration.
The sealing of the outer box is with glue or 50mm tape, capable of resisting a tropical climate (humidity and sunshine) for six months. Tape overlaps of 10cm minimum.
Containers are to be filled without pallets as follows
Boxes are to be laid flat.
Double wall corrugated board inserts are to be placed between the third and fourth layer covering the surface over the width of the container, and covering at least two boxes lengthwise. These inserts are not to overlap.
Any free space at the sides and at the ends is to be filled with "AD HOC" material to ensure that the cartons are completely immobilized in the container.
|
Marking |
on PET bottles |
on cartons |
|
Product name |
1cm |
2cm |
|
Date of manufacture |
0.3 - 0.5cm |
0.5 - 0.8cm |
|
Expiry date |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Code or full name |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Contents in litres |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Manufacturer’s name and address |
Yes |
Yes |
Arrow showing the upright position on the outside of the carton box
Minimum documentation required for quality assurance from the supplier
To be established by an official body:
- Certificate of inspection
- Certificate of origin
- Health Certificate or Phytosanitary Certificate
- Weight and Quality Certificate
- Non-radioactivity Certificate
- Certificate stating whether GMOs may be included in the product
Other documentation needs to be provided according to the purchase agreement.
Latest update: 14/05/2020