Technical Specifications for

SOUTH AFRICA WHITE MAIZE No 1

Specification reference: South Africa White No.1 Maize grains
Version: 1.0
Date of issue: 1st March, 2011
1. SCOPE
This specification applies to White No.1 Maize grains purchased in South Africa by WFP.
2. DEFINITION

Broken corn is all matter that passes readily through a 12/64-inch (4.76 mm) round-hole
sieve and over a 6/64-inch (2.38 mm) round hole sieve. In addition Broken corn is all
matter that passes readily through a 4.76 mm round hole sieve and all matter other than
corn that remains in the sieved sample.
Defective kernels are all maize kernels and pieces of maize kernels which are shrivelled,
obviously immature, frost damaged, heat-damaged, mouldy or discoloured, have sprouted
(including kernels whose growing point in the germ is visibly discoloured), have cavities
in the germ or endosperm caused by insects or rodents, are visibly contaminated by smut,
soil, smoke or coal-dust, can pass through the 6.35 mm round-hole sieve, are clearly of
inferior quality and of subspecies other than Zea mays indentata or Zea Mays indurata.
Discoloured kernels are all kernels
caused by excessive respiration (heat
darkened, wrinkled, blistered, puffed
seed coat may be peeling or may
appearance.

materially discoloured by excessive heat, including that

damage) and dried damaged kernels. Kernels may appear
or swollen, often with discoloured, damaged germs. The
have peeled off completely, giving kernels a checked

Foreign matter is all matter other than maize, glass, stone, coal, dung or metal.
Pinked kernels are maize kernels whose endosperm is white or yellow and whose pericarp or
part thereof is red or pink in colour.
3. REFERENCE
Codex Standard for Maize grains (Codex Stan 153-1995, rev. 1-1995).
4. PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
4.1 General requirements

Moisture:
Defective kernels (a):
Other colours (b):
Foreign matter (c):
Pinked kernels:
a+b+c:
Organoleptic:
Live insect Infestation:

14 % max
7 % max
2 % max
0.3% max
12% max
8% max
Natural state, smell and color
Nil

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

Limit
1.1 ppm max.
30 ppm max
2.5 ppm max.
1.5 ppm max.
250 ppm max.
50 ppm max.
1.0 ppm max.
< 10 ppb
< 10 ppb
< 10 ppb
< 10 ppb
Free
Free
Free
Free
10 Bq/Kg max
100 ppb max
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.
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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.
Table 2: Sampling rules
Lot or sub-lot
size (MT)

Number of increment

100

3 % of bags and minimum 50 bags

(e.g. 60 increments for a lot of 100
MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

101-200

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

lot of 200 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

201-300

3 % of bags (e.g. 180 increments for a

lot of 300 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

301-400

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

lot of 400 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

401-500

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

lot of 500 MT, packed in 50 kg bag)

Place of sampling

Reference

Warehouse

GAFTA 124-2

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
1
Moisture

Limit
14 % max

Reference method*

2
3
4

Defective kernels (a)

Other colours (b)
Foreign matter (c)

7% max
2% max
0.3% max

ISO5223-1995, 1999
Visual, Gravimetry
ISO5223-1995, 1999

5
6
7
8
9

Pinked kernels
a+b+c:
Organoleptic
Live insect Infestation
Aflatoxin

12% max
8% max
Natural state, smell and color
Nil
20 ppb max

Visual, Gravimetry

10 GMO (Only if required)

* Or equivalent

AACC44-15A
ISO711-2009

Negative

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Visual
AOAC972.26;
AACC45-16;
ISO16050