General information
The product is also called Black-eyed bean, or Cowpea (in French: Niébé)
Raw material/grains must be sourced from responsible farming sources.
To guarantee product size, refer to the number of grains per 100 grams.
Impact on local, national, or regional market availability and prices should be reviewed before purchasing large quantities.
Import of food is always subject to acceptance from national authorities, based on national and/or internationally accepted guidelines; supplier must be able to verify if product can be supplied in line with requested specification.
Specifications
For all aspects of the product, unless described otherwise below, the standard of Codex Alimentarius last edition applies, including for the packaging.
Analysis of microbiological, chemical or radiological contaminants, toxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues (see table below) must certify the product is “fit for human consumption”. The supplier shall submit related Lab reports / Declarations.
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.
BLACK-EYED PEAS (Niébé)
|
Organoleptic |
Clean and bright appearance, natural smell and colour, free from unpleasant odour and flavour or visible yeast and mould |
|
Grain Size |
Specify number of grains per 100g |
|
Moisture |
13% max. |
|
Other variety |
2% max. |
|
Foreign matter and impurities |
1% max. |
|
Total defect (discoloured,
shrivelled, shrunken, rotten) |
7% max., with 3% max for each parameter |
|
Decayed, rotten kernels |
3% max. counts/counts |
|
Weevilled/holed grains |
1% max. |
|
Live insects |
Nil |
|
Dead insects, including parts, stages and waste |
2 per kg max. |
|
Weed, fungal/mould growth or yeast (visual inspection) |
Nil |
|
Presence of Datura seeds and other toxic grains (Crotolaria spp., Agrostemma githago L., Ricinus communis L.) or traces of tropane alkaloids |
Nil |
|
Microbiology
|
- 20 mg/kg max. (before cooking)
|
|
Heavy metals
|
|
|
Radionuclide contamination |
- No α (alpha) and β (beta) radiations contamination traces
- Concentration of ϒ (Gamma) rays by artificial gamma emitters (Cs137 and Cs134) must not be more than 30 Bq/kg
|
|
Presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) |
Nil |
|
Cooking time, after soaking for
24 hours |
45 minutes on average |
|
Shelf life |
Not less than 80% of total shelf life at delivery and at least 24 months from the date of delivery |
|
Crop year |
To be indicated – must be new crop |
|
Origin |
To be indicated |
Packaging
Net weight 25kg per bag or as requested in the RFT and Contract.
All bags must be made of new woven food-grade polypropylene with a minimum weight of 85 grams per square meter, without coating or lining that would change the properties of the product or contaminate it.
Bags will have a heat cut mouth to prevent fibrillation and have been sewn with a double folder bottom.
Bags must be closed by double stitching with suitable thread.
Bags must be clean, sound and free from insect or fungal infestation.
Bags must be new, uniform, strong, fit for export and multiple handing.
Use of recycled bags and/or bags made from recycled materials is not allowed.
Construction of fabric must be solid to sustain harsh handling.
The bags of finished product must pass the drop test (after each drop, there shall be no rupture or loss of contents) following the drop test standards (EN 277, ISO 7965-2 or equivalent) with following sequence:
- Butt dropping: Bag is dropped from a height of 1.20m on the bottom and the top of the bag
- Flat dropping: Bag is dropped from a height of 1.60m twice on one flat face and twice on the opposite flat face.
One percent additional empty spare marked bags (included in the price) must be sent with the lot.
Marking
Each bag to be marked with non-toxic ink, to remain readable after a minimum of 10 handlings with the following information:
- Organisation logo (if requested)
Proposed marking should be approved by the buyer prior to packing.
Fumigation
The grain must be clean and fumigated by an authorised professional pest control company prior dispatch in individual packing.
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.
Commodities must have been fumigated maximum 15 days prior to departure date. Product to be fumigated inside the container upon loading.
Never fumigate if transporting in an open truck.
Storage
Goods to be stored in a clean, well-ventilated warehouse at normal room temperature. It must be ensured to avoid risk of cross-contamination from other stored grains.
Quality Control
The supplier must have trained in-house quality control to check above mentioned stipulations and also allow goods to be inspected by ICRC staff or authorised 3rd party inspection companies to verify quality and also provide evidences of relevant documentation
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
- Non-radioactivity Certificate
- Fumigation Certificate indicating name of fumigation product and its batch number
- Non-GMO declaration / Certificate
Other documentation needs to be provided according to the purchase agreement.
Latest update: 15/05/2020