DNAMS 002 6: 202 3 
            First Edition  
  
 
 
 
 
NAMIBIAN STANDARD  
  
     
    
    
     
Marketing and com mercial quality control of 
Sweetcorn  
 
   
 
 
This Namibian standard is a home grown standard  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published by the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI)  
Established by section 2 of the Standards Act, 2005 (Act No 18 of 2005)   
37 Feld Street  
P.O. Box 26364 Windhoek, Namibia  
Tel +264 -61386400, Fax +264 -61-386454  
Website: wwwnsi.com.na  
© NSI
DNAMS 0026: 2023  
First Edition   
1   
 
Contents   
National foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  2 
1. Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
2. Normative  referen ces ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
3. Terms and  Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
4. Provisions concerning quality  ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
4.1  Minimum requirements  ................................ ................................ ..............................  4 
4.2  Maturity requirements  ................................ ................................ ...............................  5 
4.3  Classification  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
4.3.1  Class I  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  5 
4.3.2  Class II  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
5. Provisions concerning sizing  ................................ ................................ ....................  5 
6. Provisions concerning tolerances  ................................ ................................ ............  5 
6.1  Quality tolerances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
6.1.1  Class  I ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  6 
6.1.2  Class  II ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
6.2 Size tolerance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  6 
7. Provisions concerning presentation  ................................ ................................ .........  6 
7.1  Uniformity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  6 
7.2  Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
8. Provisions concerning marking  ................................ ................................ ................  7 
8.1  Identification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  7 
8.2  Nature of produce  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 7 
8.3  Origin of produce ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 8 
8.4  Commercial specifications  ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
8.5  Official control mark or Official Inspection Mark (optional)  ................................ ........  8 
9. Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
10. Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
 
 
 
 
 
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National foreword  
 
This Namibian Standard  (NAMS)  is a homegrown and was approved for adoptions b y the 
Namibian Standards Institution CEO.  
 
Namibian standards are developed based on NSI Standards development procedures in 
accordance with the rules gi ven in the International Organis ation fo r Standardisation/  
International El ectrot echnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Direc tives and WTO – TBT World Trade 
Organisation code of Good Practice (which is published as Annex 3 in the TBT Agreement)  
 
The NSI Management Technic al Committee responsible for this standard is NSI TC 3, 
Food Safety Management Systems, Subcommittee SC3 on Horticulture products 
standards  
 
 
 
 
This NAMS 002 6:2023 was published in ………..2023   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DNAMS 0026: 2023  
First Edition   
3  Marketing and com mercial quality control of 
Sweetcorn  
 
 
 
1. Scope  
 
This standard applies to Sweetcorn of the varieties (cultivars) Zea mays L, and excludes 
sweetcorn corn for industrial processing.  
 
 
2. Normative  references  
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their 
content constitutes requirements of this documents. For dated references, only the edition 
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document 
(including any amendments) applies.  Information on currently valid national and internat ional 
standards are obtained from the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI)  
 
CODEX STAN 193 - 1995 , Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxin in 
Food and Feed  
  
CAC/RCP 1 - 1969 , Recommended International Code of Practice - General Principle 
of Food Hygiene  
  
CAC/RCP 53 - 2003 , Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  
 
CAC/GL 21 - 1997 , Principle for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria 
for Foods  
 
CAC/RCP 44 – 1995, Recommended International Code of Practice for  Packaging and 
Transport of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  
 
ISO 874, Fresh fruits and vegetables - Sampling  
 
3. Terms and  Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this document, the following definitions apply.  
 
3.1 
Bulk container  
truck, any vehicle or container used for the tra nsportation or storage of swee tcorn 
 
3.2 
Carrier container  
container in which more than one consumer packages are packed  DNAMS 0026: 2023  
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3.3  
Consignment  
quantity  of fruits  or  fresh  vegetable  of the same  kind,  belonging  to the same  owner  and delivered 
at the same  time under  cover  of the same  delivery  note,  consignment  note or receipt  note, or 
delivered by the same vehicle;  or in the case of a quantity of fruit or  fresh vegetable that is 
divided into different cultivars, classes, pallet  loads,  trademarks,  counts,  size groups  or types  
of packaging,  every  quantity  of each of the different cultivars, classes, pallet loads, trademarks, 
counts, size groups or types of packaging  
 
3.4 
Decay  
state of decomposition or fungus development except dry stem -end rot, part ly or completely 
affecting the quality of the sweetcorn  detrimentally  
 
3.5 
Foreign matter  
any material not normally present in, on or among sweetcorn with the exception of soil;  
 
4. Provisions concerning quality  
 
This document  describes the quality requirements for sweetcorn  after preparation and 
packaging.  
 
However,  if applied  at stages  following  warehousing  and distribution,  products  may show  in 
relation  to the requirements of the  standard:  
• a slight lack of freshness  
• a slight deterioration due to their development and their tendency to  perish.  
 
The holder/seller of products shall  not display such products or offer them for sale, or 
deliver or market them in any manner other than in conformity with this standard. The 
holder/seller shall be responsib le for observing such conformity.  
 
4.1 Minimum requirements  
 
In all classes, subject t o tolerances allowed, the sweetcorn  shall be: 
 
• Be intact, fresh and firm  
• Free from decay  
• Clean and free from visible foreign matters, including soil  
• Be free from Anthropoda infestation  
• Free from insect damage or damage caused by other organisms;  
• Free from blemishes  
• Free from injuries  
• Free from abnormal external moisture  
• Free from cold damage  
• Free from sun -scorch  DNAMS 0026: 2023  
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5  • Free from any other factors detrimentally affect or m ay affect the quality of the 
sweetcorn  
• Sound and attractive in appearance and have normal characteristics of the cultivar  
 
4.2 Maturity requirements  
 
The kernels shall, except in the case of miniature corn, be well formed, not underdeveloped, 
soft and milky and show no sign of dents of discolouration.  
 
The cob shall be filled completely with kernels in straight rows.  
 
4.3 Classification  
 
Sweetcorn is classified into two (2) classes, as defined below:  
 
4.3.1 Class I  
  
Sweetcorn in class I shall be well trimmed, the stalk shall n ot be longer than 2 c m and less 
than 8mm and the end of the cob shall no t be seedless for more than 2 c m. 
 
4.3.2 Class II  
 
Sweetcorn in class II shall be well trimmed, the s talk shall not be longer than 2 cm and less 
than 0.8 c m and the end of the cob shall not  be seedless for more than 0.25 cm . 
 
4.3.3 Miniature Sweet corn  
 
In the case miniature sweet corn shall not be pollinated, but shall be conical, straight leading 
to a point. Include in defi nitions  
 
The kernels shall be evenly mature and in straight rows without confusion or spiraling; and  
silk shall be absent.  
 
5. Provisions concerning sizing  
 
The maximum cob length in the cas e of Class I and Class II sweet corn is 20 c m. 
 
The minimum cob length in the  case of Class II is 14 c m and in the case of Class I I, the 
minimum cob length is 12  cm. 
 
In the case of miniature co rn, the minimum cob length is 6 cm and maximum cob length is 12 
cm.  
The minimum diameter is 0.8 cm and the maximum diameter 2 c m. 
 
 
6. Provisions concerning tolerances  
 DNAMS 0026: 2023  
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6  At all marketing stages, tolerances in respect of quality shall be allowed in each 
package for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.  
 
     6.1 Quality tolerances  
 
     6.1.1 Class  I 
 
A total tolerance of 10 % , by number or weight, of sweetcorn  not satisfying the requirements 
of this class, but meeting those of Class II is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 1 
per cent in total may consist of produce satisfying neither the requirements of Class II quality 
nor the minimum requirements (S ection 4.1), or of produce affected by decay.  
 
      6.1.2 Class  II 
 
A total tolerance of 10 %  by number or weight of sweet corn  not satisfying th e minimum 
requirements of sweetcorn  (Section 4.1) or that of Class I  
 
6.2 Size tolerance  
 
For all classes, 10% by number or weight of sweetcorn  not satisfying the requirements as 
regards sizing, but falling within the size immediately above or below those indicated in 
Section 5.  
 
7. Provisions concerning presentation  
 
7.1 Uniformity  
 
a) The contents of each package (or lot for  produce presented in bulk) shall  be uniform 
and contain only sweetcorn  of the same variety, origin, quality, colour, size and the 
same degr ee of development and ripeness   
 
b) The visible part of the contents of the package (or lot for  produce presente d in bulk) 
shall be repres entative of the entire contents  
 
c) However, a mixture of sweetcorn  of distinctly different varieties and/or commercial 
types may be packed together in a package provided they are uniform in quality and, 
for each variety or comme rcial type concerned, in origin  
 
d) In the case of those mixtures uniformity in size is not required. The visible part of the 
contents of the package shall be repres entative of the entire contents  
 
7.2 Packaging  
 
a) Sweetcorn  shall be properly packed in such a w ay as to protect the produce.  
 
b) The materi als used inside the package shall  be clean and of good quality such as to 
avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce.  DNAMS 0026: 2023  
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c) The use of materials, particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specific ations is 
allowed, provided the printing or labelling has been done with non -toxic ink or glue.  
 
d) Packages (or lot for  produce presented in bulk) shall  be free  of foreign matter and 
smell.  
 
e) The containers shall meet quality, hygiene, ventilation and resistance characteristics 
to ensure suitable handling, transportat ion and preserving of the sweetcorn . 
 
f) Sweetcorn  shall be packed in each c ontainer in compliance with CAC/RCP 44 -
1995  
 
8. Provisions concerning marking  
 
Each package shall bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly 
and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside printed either on the package itself or on a 
label secured to the fastening.  
 
8.1 Identification  
 
The following information shall be available:  
 
a) Packer and or dispatcher/ shipper name and physical address or postal address of  
the producer, exporter or owner of the content in the container to be  provided  
 
b) The producer registration code or pack -house re gistration code, which is registered 
with the competent authority by the producer, exporte r or pack - house  
 
c) If the producer has, more than one establishment shall  be registered separately   
 
d) In the case where retailers/wholesalers and or traders may provide their preferred 
branded  packaging material to producers for on farm packaging, that at least a 
sticker be placed on such a product that would identify the origin of the  produce  
 
8.2 Nature of produce  
 
a) Each package / lot shall be labelled as to the name of the produce and may be 
labelled as to the name of the variety or commercial type: e.g. “Sweetcorn”, “Mixture 
of Sweetcorn ”  
 
b) “Mixture of sweetcorn ”, or equ ivalent denomination is used, if  the case of a  mixture 
of distinctly different varieties or commercial types of melons. If the produce is not 
visible from the outside, the varieties and/or commercial types and the quan tity of 
each in the package shall  be indicated  
 
 
 DNAMS 0026: 2023  
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8  8.3 Origin of produce  
 
Country of origin  and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place   
  
In the case of a mixture of sweet corns  of distinctly different varieties a nd/or commercial types 
of sweetcorns  of different origins, the indication of each origin shall appear next to the name 
of the variety/commercial type concerned.  
 
8.4 Commercial specifications  
 
- Class  
- Size, expressed as minimum and maximum weight or as minimum and maximum 
diameter  
- Number of units (optional)  
- Nett weight (optional)   
 
8.5 Official control mark or Official Inspection Mark (optional)  
 
Mark of an agency that conducted the quality inspection and offer certificate of conformity  
 
9. Contaminants  
The produce  shall comply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides established by the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
 
 
 
10.  Hygiene  
 
It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared 
and handled in accordance with the appropriate sections o f the CAC/RCP 1 -1969,   
CAC/RCP 53 -2003 , and other relevant Codex text such as Codes of  Hygienic Practice 
and Codes of  Practice.  
 
The produce shall  comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance  with 
CAC/GL 21 -1997