AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
                  
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
 
Oat grains — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS                                                                                                                       
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
Oat grains — Specification and grading  
 
0.  Foreword  
Oat grains are obtained from either Avena byzantina   or Avena sativa  a tall, erect annual cereal 
grass up to 1.5 m. It is widely grown as a food grain and fodder in temperate and sub -tropical 
regions. It also does well in the high -altitude tropics.  
Oats have numerous uses in food; most commonly, they are rolled or crushed  into oatmeal, or 
ground into fine oat flour. Oatmeal is chiefly eaten as porridge, but may also be used in a variety of 
baked goods, such as oatcakes, oatmeal cookies, and oat bread. Oats are also an ingredient in 
many cold cereals, in particular muesli a nd granola. Oats may also be consumed raw, and cookies 
with raw oats are becoming popular. Oats are also occasionally used in several different drinks such 
as brewing  beer. Oats may also be used in soup preparations.  
Development of this Tanzania standard w as necessitated by the need to ensure the safety and quality of 
oat grains being produced and or marketed in Tanzania as well as for import and export markets.  
 
In preparation of this draft Tanzania standard assistance was drawn from CODEX STAN 201, Standa rd 
for Oats.  
 
In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance with the Tanzania standard, if the final 
value observed or calculated is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with TZS 4: (see clause 
2). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                        
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
1. Scope  
 
This Tanzania standard specifies the requirements, sampling and methods of test for oat grains of 
varieties (cultivars) grown from Avena sativa  and Avena byzantina  intended for human consumption.  
 
This standard does not apply to Avena nuda  (hulless oats).  
 
2. Normative References  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any ame ndments) applies.  
 
TZS 4, Rounding  off numerical values  
 
TZS 109, Food processing units – Code of hygiene  
 
TZS 117,  Food – Handling of samples for microbiological analysis – Code of practice  
 
TZS 122, Microbiology of food and feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for the detection of salmonella spp  
 
TZS 125, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
coagulase \-positive staphylococci \(Staphylococcus aureus an d other species \) – Part 1 \: Technique 
using Baird \-Parker agar medium – Amendment 1 \: Inclusion of precision data  
 
TZS 131, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuff \: General guidance for enumeration of yeasts and 
moulds \- Colony Count technique at 2 5oC 
 
TZS 268, General atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for determination of lead in food and 
food stuffs  
TZS 330, Cereals – Sampling of milled products  
 
TZS 331 – Cereals – Milled products - Methods of test  
 
TZS 538, Labelling of pre\-packaged foods — General requirements  
 
TZS 730, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for the enumeration of \-b\-
glucuronidase \-positive Escheria coli – Part 2 – Colony \-count technique at 44 0C using 5 \-bromo \-4\-
chloro \-3\-indolyl \-b\-D\-glucuronide . 
TZS 1490, Fruits, vegetables and derived products – Sampling and method of test – Part 4 \: 
Determination of mineral impurities content  
TZS 1495,  Fruits, vegetables and derived products — Determination of copper content — Method using 
flame atomic absorption spectrometry  
TZS 1501, Fruits, vegetables and derived products — Determination of mercury content — Flameless 
atomic absorption method  
TZS 15 02, Fruits, vegetables and derived products – Sampling and methods of test Part 14 \: 
Determination of arsenic content \- Silver diethyldithocarbamate spectrophotometric method TZS 1495 
Fruits, vegetables and derived products — Determination of copper conten t — Method using flame 
atomic absorption spectrometry  
TZS 1770, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point \(HACCP \) System — Requirements for any 
organization in the food chain                                                                                                                         
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
 
3.0 Terms and Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this Tanzania standard the following terms and definitions shall apply: - 
 
3.1 
oat grains  
grains obtained from either Avena byzantina   or Avena sativa  
 
3.2 
dockage  
any material intermixed with a parcel of oat grain, other than kernels of grain of a standard of quality fixed 
for a gr ade of that grain, that must and can be separated from the parcel of grain before that grade can be 
assigned to the grain. Dockage includes: all material removed by sieving or handpicking or both, soft 
earth pellets, which are pellets that crumble under li ght pressure, including earth pellets, fertilizer pellets , 
or pellets of any non -toxic material of similar consistency, in unprocessed samples, mudballs handpicked 
from the cleaned sample.  
 
3.3 
commercially clean  
primary  samples are considered commercially clean when they contain no dockage material  
 
3.4 
contaminated oat grain  
grain containing any substance in sufficient quantity that the grain is unfit for consumption by persons or 
animals or is adulterated within the me aning of food safety regulations.  
 
3.5 
damaged oat grain  
kernels are damaged if the groats are fire burnt, heated, frost -damaged, insect damaged, sprouted, 
mildewed, green, rotted, badly weather stained, affected by fusarium or are otherwise damaged. Weath er 
stained and/or mildewed groats are considered damaged if there is significant brown or black 
discoloration on 50% or more of the groats or the discoloration penetrates into the groat.  
 
3.6 
earth pellets  
Hard earth pellets are pellets that do not crumble under light pressure. Soft earth pellets are pellets that 
crumble under light pressure using a finger only —if they do not crumble, they are considered Stones  any 
non-toxic material of similar consistency  
 
3.7 
ergot  
a plant disease producing elongated fungus bodies with a purplish -black exterior, a purplish -white to off 
white interior, and a relatively smooth surface texture.  
 
3.8 
fertilizer pellets  
fertilizer pellets are typically either small, round and wh ite or irregular shaped and pink or red. Fertilizer 
pellets are not considered a hazardous substance however there is no visible means of assuring that 
material resembling fertilizer pellets is not some other contaminant.  
 
 
3.9 
fine seeds  
all matter that p asses through a 2 mm [5/64”] triangular -hole sieve after sieving  
 
 
                                                                                                                        
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
3.10 
fireburnt  
fireburnt kernels have been charrred or scorched by fire. A cross -section of a fireburnt  kernel 
resembles charcoal with numerous air holes. The air holes result in a low weight kernel that 
crumbles easily under pressure.  
 
3.11 
foreign matter  
anything other than oats that remains in the sample after the removal of dockage. Some types of 
foreig n material have separate tolerances.  
 
3.12 
frost damage  
frost-damaged  kernels of oats have a black or sunken ventral side and grey or black groats. Frost -
damaged oat groats show discoloration in the ventral crease as a dark line. The discoloration may extend 
throughout the groats depending on the severity of frost damage. T here is no limit for frost damage in 
Grade 4. When the inclusion of frost damage in Total damage  or Total damage and foreign  material 
would result in either of these totals exceeding 8%, only that percentage of frost that brings  the total up to 
8% is consi dered in grade assessment. That is, the percentage of the frost component in a sample 
cannot be used to assign a grade lower than Grade 4.  
 
3.13 
Fusarium damage  
Fusarium damage is rare on oats. It resembles fusarium damage in barley. Kernels are discolored  by 
pink, orange or black encrustations of fusarium mold. Under magnification, the black encrustations 
appear raised above the surface of the kernel and are surrounded by a white mould. The black 
encrustations can be scraped off. Some degree of judgment is  required when identifying kernels with the 
fusarium mould. Only those kernels which meet this description are to be designated as fusarium 
damaged.  
 
3.14 
green  
green kernels in oats are an indication of immaturity.  
Green hulls are assessed in the general color of the sample. Green groats are considered damaged.  
3.15 
heated  
heated kernels have the color or odor typical of grain that has deteriorated in storage or has been 
damaged by artificial drying. When the hull of a heated oat is removed, the groat appe ars brown or 
orange -red. 
 
3.16 
hulled and hulless  
hulled oats have the hulls removed. Hulless oats have loose hulls which are usually removed during 
harvesting. Groats are the oat kernels without the hulls.  
 
3.17 
immature and shrivelled grains  
grains  that are not properly developed . 
 
 
3.18 
large seeds  
domestic and wild seeds that remain on top of the 1.79 mm round -hole sieve. Large seeds are assessed 
As dockage if they are removed by Cleaning for grade improvement. As large seeds and included in Total  
damage and foreign material  if they remain in the sample.  
                                                                                                                        
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
3.19 
mildew  
a fungal condition that develops in unthreshed  grain usually under conditions of excessive moisture. 
The affected kernels are greyish in colour and lower in quality. In the evaluation of mildew, consider 
the number of affected kernels and their severity. Hull discolouration is assessed in the general 
colour of the sample. Discoloured groats are considered as damaged when there is significant brown 
or black discolouration on 50% or more of the groat or the discolouration penetrates into the groat.  
 
Note:  
If the discolouration is on the groats, from mild ew the sample is considered  damaged . If the 
discolouration is on the hull, but groats are undamaged the sample is considered superficially 
mildewed, but sound . 
 
3.20 
odour  
refers to the basic quality of the sample, the type and degree of the odour, the pre sence of visible 
residue causing the odour since there is no numeric tolerance for odour .  
 
3.21 
other edible grains  
any edible grains other than oat grain including oil seeds, barley, corn, cultivated buckwheat, 
einkorn, emmer, flaxseed, guar, hull -less b arley, nongrain sorghum, Polish wheat, popcorn, poulard 
wheat, rice, rye, safflower, sorghum, soybeans, spelt, sunflower seed, sweet corn, triticale, and 
wheat . 
 
3.22 
poisonous, toxic and/or harmful seeds  
any seed which if present in quantities above permissible limit may have damaging or dangerous 
effect on health, organoleptic properties or technological performance such as Jimson weed — 
dhatura ( D. fastuosa  Linn and D. stramonium  Linn.) corn cokle ( Agros temma githago  L., Machai  
Lallium remulenum Linn.) Akra (Vicia species),  Argemone mexicana , Khesari and other seeds that  
are commonly recognized as harmful to health.  
 
3.23 
rotted  
rotted  kernels are discolored, swollen,  soft and spongy as a result of decomposition by fungi or 
bacteria. Rotted kernels in oats are considered as damaged.  
 
3.24 
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum  
a fungus producing hard masses of fungal tissue, called  sclerotia . The  sclerotia vary in size and 
shape, have a course surface texture, vary in exterior color from dark black to gray to white and have 
a pure white interior.  
 
3.26 
sprouted  
kernels that show definite signs of germination. Sprouted oats are assessed as damaged.  
 
3.27 
sound oats  
kernels and pieces of oat kernels (except wild oats) that are not badly ground -damaged, badly weather -
damaged, diseased, frost -damaged, germ -damaged, heat -damaged, insect -bored, mold -damaged, 
sprout -damaged, or otherwise materially damaged.  
 
3.28 
stones  
are hard shale, coal, hard earth pellets, and any other non-toxic materials of similar consistency. Fertilizer 
pellets are assessed as stones when constituting 1.0% or less of the net sample weight. (See Fertilizer 
pellets  for specific procedures to be followed when samples contain fertilizer pellets.)                                                                                                                         
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
 
3.29 
total damag e and foreign material  
total damage and foreign material includes all foreign material and all damage. Frost damage is not 
included in Grade 4 oats.  
 
3.30 
treated seed and other chemical substances  
Treated seed is grain that has been coated with an agricul tural chemical for agronomic purposes. These 
seed dressings contain a dye to render the treated seed visually conspicuous. The colour of the dye 
varies depending upon the type of treatment and the type of grain. The coatings or stains may appear 
greasy or powdery and surface area distribution ranges from tiny flecks to complete coverage.  
Other chemical substance refers  to any chemical residues either adhering to the kernel or remaining in 
the sample and to samples havin g a chemical odour of any kind.  
 
3.31 
weevilled grains  
grains that are partially or wholly bored by insects injurious to grains but does not include germ eaten 
grains and egg spotted grains  
 
3.32 
wild oats  
seeds of Avena fatua  L. and A. sterilis  L 
 
3.33 
filth 
impurities  of plant and animal origin including dead insects, rodent hair and excreta  
 
 
4.0 Requirements  
 
4.1 General quality requirements  
 
4.1.1 Oat grains shall meet the following general requirements;  
a) shall consist of oats ( Avena sativa  L. and A. byzantina C.  Koch) and may contain, singly or in 
combination, and of wild oats and other grains as per stipulated in Table 1 of this standard.  
b) be hard, clean, wholesome, uniform in size, shape, colour and in sound merchantable condition;  
c) shall be safe and suitable for human consumption;  
d) shall be free of pests, live animals, animal carcasses, animal droppings, fungus infestation, added 
coloring mat ter, moulds, weevils, obnoxious substances, discoloration and all other impurities except to 
the extent indicated in this standard and must meet any other phytosanitary requirements specified by the 
importing country authority;  
e) shall be free from filthin amounts that represent a hazard to human health;  
 
f) shall be free from toxic or noxious seeds viz. Crotolaria ( Crotolaria  spp.), Corn cockle 
(Agrostemma githago  L.), Castor bean ( Ricinus communis  L.), Jimson weed ( Dhatura  spp.), Argemone 
mexicana , Khesari and other seeds that are commonly recognized as harmful to  health;  
g) shall be free from abnormal flavours, obnoxious smell and discolouration.  
 
4.2 Classification  
Oats shall be classified into four (4) grades on the basis of the tolerable limits establ ished in Table 1 
which shall be additional to the general requirements set out in this standard.  
 
4.3 Unclassified oat grains  
Shall be oat grains which do not fall within the requirements of Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Table 1 but are not 
rejected oats.  
 
                                                                                                                        
 
AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3 
 
4.4 Rejected oat grains  
 
(a) (i) shall contain 8 or more stones which have an aggregate weight in excess of 0.2 percent of the 
sample weight,  
(ii) 2 or more pieces of glass,  
(iii) 3 or more crotalaria seeds ( Crotalaria  spp.),  
(iv) 2  or more castor beans ( Ricinus communis  L.), 
(v)  4 or more particles of an unknown foreign substance(s) or a commonly recognized harmful or toxic 
substance(s),  
(vi) 8 or more cocklebur ( Xanthium  spp.) or similar seeds singly or in combination,  
(vii) 10 o r more rodent pellets, bird droppings, or equivalent quantity of other animal filth per 1065 ml to 
1183 ml of oats; or  
 
(b)have a musty, sour, or commercially objectionable foreign odor (except smut or garlic odor); or  
(c) are heated  or otherwise of disti nctly low quality.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
 
9 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIAN STANDARD  
Characteristic         Grade    Method   of  
              
test         1  2  3(1) 4 (2) 
Foreign matter,  Other  Barley    1  2  6 14 
TZS 331  whole grains, %  grains            
Cereal  
grains  other  3  
4  
6 14 
by mass, max. and  
wild   
than wheat or barley        
   
oats       
             
   
Wheat    
1  
2  
6 14         
             
    Wild oats    1  2  3 8 
             
    Total    3  4  6 14 
              
   Large seeds     0.20  0.30  0.50 1.0 
              
   Sclerotin      Nil  0.05  0.05 0.10 
              
   Stones      0.017   0.066   0.15 0.15 
              
   Ergot      Nil  0.05  0.05 0.10 
              
   Excreta      1 piece 
in  0.01  0.02 0.02 
        1000 g 
or       
        less      
          
Standard  of Min. test weight, kg/h (g/0.5 
L) 51 (255)  
)  49(245)   46(230)  43(215)  
quality              
 Degree of 
soundness    
Well  Reasonabl
y  Fairly 
well 86 % sound          
        matured
,  well 
matured,   mature
d, groats   
        good 
natural   reasonably   fair 
colour,    
        colour, 
97 %   good 
natural   94 %    
        sound 
oats  colour, 96 
%  sound    
          sound oats   groats    
             
Hulled and hulless, %      6  8  20 No limit — 
if    AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
 
10 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIAN STANDARD  
             sample   
             contains 
75%  
             or more of   
             hulless 
oats,   
             hulles 
becomes   
             part of 
grade   
             name  
TZS 331               
Damage, %  by Fireburnt      Nil  Nil  Nil 0.25 
mass, max.              
 
Fusariam      
0.1  
2.0  
4 6          
              
   Heated      Nil  0.1  1.0 3 
            
   Insect  bored  kernel
s, kernels  0.1  0.3  0.5 0.5 
   which have been visibly bored 
or       
   tunnelled by 
insects          
              
   Total      0.1  2.0  4 6 
           
Moisture content, % by mass, max.     12.0  12.0  13.0 14.0 
       
Total damage and foreign material, % by mass, max.  3  4  6 14 
expressed as kilogrammes per hectolitre.          
        
               
               
1) Oats  that are slightly weathered shall be graded not higher 
than Grade 3.     
    
2) Oats that are badly stained or materially weathered shall be graded not 
higher than Grade 4.    
   
               
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
 
11 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIAN STANDARD  
5 Contaminants  
5.1 Pesticide residues  
Oat grains shall comply with those maximum pesticide residue limits established by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.  
 
5.2 Heavy metals  
Oat grains shall be free from heavy metals in amounts which may represent a hazard to health. If pre sent, 
they shall not exceed the limits established in Table 2.  
 
Table 2 — Heavy metal contaminant limits  
 
 Parameter  Limit 
(max) ppm  Test method  
    
i) Arsenic (As)  0.10 TZS 1502  
    
ii) Copper (Cu)  2.0 TZS 1495  
    
iii) Lead (Pb)  0.10  
   TZS 268 
iv) Cadmium ( Cd) 0.02  
   TZS 1490  
v) Mercury (Hg), ppm max.  0.01 TZS 1501  
    
 
5.3 Mycotoxin limits  
 
5.3.1  Oat grains shall comply with mycotoxin limits specified in Table 3 when tested in accordance with 
test methods specified therein.  
 
Table 3 — Mycotoxins limits for oats grains  
 
S/N Mycotoxin  limit (max)  Test method  
 
i.  Total aflatoxins, µg/kg  10 
TZS  331 ii.  Aflatoxins B 1, µg/kg  5 
iii.  Fumonisins , µg/kg  2 000  
 
5.3.2  Uric acid shall not exceed 100 milligrams per kilogram insert the test method.  
 
 
 
6.0 Hygiene  
 
6.1 It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this Standard be prepared and 
handled in accordance with TZS 109 and TZS 1779.    AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
 
12 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIAN STANDARD  
 
6.2 The produce should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with TZS 117  
 
6.3 To the extent possible in good agricultural practice, the products shall be free from objectionable 
mater.  
 
6.4 When tested by appropriate standards of sampling and examination listed in Clause 2, the products:  
shall be free from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health and shall not 
exceed the limits stipulated in Table 4; shall be free from parasites which may represent a hazard to 
health; and shall not contain any substance originating from micr oorganisms in amounts which may 
represent a hazard to health.  
 
Table 4 — Microbiological limits for oat grains  
 
 Type of micro -organism  Limits  Test method  
i) Yeasts and moulds, max. per g  102 TZS 131  
    
ii) S.aureus per 25 g  absent  TZS 125  
 
iii) E. Coli , max. per g  absent  TZS 730  
 
iv) Salmonella, max. per 25 g  absent  TZS 122  
. 
 
7.0 Pack ing 
 
7.1 Oats shall be packed in gunny bags/jute bags, poly woven bags, poly pouches, cloth bags or other 
suitable packages which shall be clean, sound, free from insect fungal infestation.  
 and the packing material shall be of food grade quality.  
7.2 Oats shall be packed in containers which will safeguard the hygienic, nutritional, technological and 
organoleptic qualities of the products.  
 
7.3 The containers, including packaging material, shall be made of substances which are safe and 
suitable for their intended use. They shall not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour 
to the product.  
 
7.4 Each package shall contain oats of the same type and of the same grade designation.  
 
7.5 Each package shall be securely closed and sealed.  
 
8.0 Marking and  Labelling  
 
8.1 In addition to the requirements in TZS 538, each package shall be legibly and indelibly marked with 
the following:  
 
i) product name as “Oat Grains”;  
ii) variety;  
iii) grade;    AFDC 1 6(6759 ) P3  
 
 
13 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIAN STANDARD  
iv) name, address and physical location of the manufacturer/ packer/importer;  
v) lot/batch/code number;  
vi) net weight, in g/kg;  
vii) the declaration “Food for Human Consumption’’;  
viii) storage instruction as “Store in a cool dry place away from any contaminants’’;  
ix) crop year;  
x) packing date;  
xi) expiry date or best before;  
xii) instructions on disposal of used package;  
xiii) country of origin;  
xiv) a declaration on whether the oats were genetically modified or not  
 
 
 
8.2 The use of pictorials or any other misrepresentation of the product on the label is prohibited.  
 
8.3 Each container may b e marked with the TBS standards mark of quality.  
 
NOTE – The TBS Standards Mark of Quality may be used by the manufacturers only under licence  
from TBS. Particulars of conditions under which the licences are granted, may be obtained from  
TBS.  
 
 
9. Sampling  
 
Sampling shall be done in accordance with the TZS 330.