Technical Specifications for

EUROPEAN MAIZE

Specification reference: European Maize grains

Version: 1.0
Date of issue: 1st March, 2011

1. SCOPE
This specification applies to Maize grains purchased in Europe by WFP.

2. DEFINITION
Broken grains include all pieces of grains and/or grains which, after elimination of all the other
matter, pass readily through a 4.5 mm round hole sieve.
Grain impurities include others cereals, grains damaged by pets and grains overheated by
drying.
Miscellaneous impurities include weed seeds including toxic grains, damaged grains: damage
cause by spontaneous heating or brutal drying, others damaged grains (mouldy grains), foreign
matter, husks, ergot bunted grains, dead insects and fragments or insects.
Sprouted grains are those grains showing visible signs of sprouting, such as cracked seed coats
through which a sprout has emerged or is just beginning to emerge.

3. REFERENCE
Codex Standard for Maize grains (Codex Stan 153-1995, rev. 1-1995).

4. PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
4.1 General requirements
Moisture: 14 % max
Broken grains: 4 % max
Grain impurities: 3 % max
Sprouted grains: 0.5% max
Miscellaneous: 1% max
Organoleptic: Natural state, smell and color
Live insect Infestation: Nil
If required by recipient country, maize needs to be obtained from non-genetically modified
varieties.

4.2 Contaminants and Toxins

Total aflatoxin content in Maize grains shall not exceed: 20 ppb.

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In addition, Maize shall not contain other contaminants and toxins in amounts which may
represent a hazard to human health. Specific limit of some contaminants and toxins are presented
in table 1.

Table 1: Limit of contaminants and toxins

No Contaminant and toxin Limit

Heavy metal
1 Arsenic (As) 1.1 ppm max.
2 Copper (Cu) 30 ppm max
3 Lead (Pb) 2.5 ppm max.
4 Cadmium (Cd) 1.5 ppm max.
5 Tin (Sn) 250 ppm max.
6 Zinc (Zn) 50 ppm max.
7 Mercury (Hg) 1.0 ppm max.
Pesticide residues
8 Carbamate < 10 ppb
9 Organochlorine < 10 ppb
10 Organophosphorus < 10 ppb
11 Pyrethroid < 10 ppb
Toxic or noxious seeds
12 Crotolaria (Crotolaria spp.) Free
13 Corn cockle (Agrostemma githago L.) Free
14 Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) Free
15 Jimson weed (Datura spp.) Free
Radiation
16 Radiation 10 Bq/Kg max
Mycotoxins
17 Zearalenone 100 ppb max
18 Ochratoxin A 5 ppb max

5. PACKAGING AND MARKING

As per contractual agreement.

6. STORING
Maize must be stored under dry, ventilated and hygienic conditions.

7. SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS
Representative samples can be drawn according to international sampling method standards at
the bagging section or in the warehouse.
For packed units, sampling frequency and reference method are showed in table 2. One
laboratory sample of 10 kg is required by lot or sub-lot of 500MT maximum.
For the bulk (static and flowing), the sampling must follow the rules described in paragraphs 5.2
and 5.3 of ISO 24333-2009.

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Table 2: Sampling rules
Lot or sub-lot
Number of increment Place of sampling Reference
size (MT)
3 % of bags and minimum 50 bags
≤100 (e.g. 60 increments for a lot of 100
MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

3 % of bags (e.g. 120 increments for a

101-200
lot of 200 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

3 % of bags (e.g. 180 increments for a Warehouse GAFTA 124-2

201-300
lot of 300 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

3 % of bags (e.g. 240 increments for a

301-400
lot of 400 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

3 % of bags (e.g. 300 increments for a

401-500
lot of 500 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

8. ANALYTICAL REQUIREMENTS

The principal tests in table 3 must be performed in order to check if the quality of the Maize
meets above requirements. Additional analyses shall be defined in case of further quality
assessment.
Table 3: List of compulsory tests and reference methods
No Analyses/tests Limit Reference method*
1 Moisture 14 % max AACC44-15A
ISO711-2009
2 Broken grains 4 % max
ISO5223-1995, 1999
3 Grain impurities 3 % max
Visual, Gravimetry
4 Sprouted grains 0.5% max Visual, Gravimetry

5 Miscellaneous 1% max Visual, Gravimetry

6 Organoleptic Natural state, smell and color

7 Live insect Infestation Nil Visual

8 Aflatoxin 20 ppb max AOAC972.26;
AACC45-16;
ISO16050
9 GMO (Only if required) Negative
* Or equivalent

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