AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
 
 
Biofortified maize (corn) grains - Specification  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
  
0. Forward  
Bio fortification  is one among the interventions strategy proposed to combat micronutrient defic iencies 
among the society. It is a process of increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop through 
conventional plant breeding, modern biotechnology , or agronomic practices. The identified staple crops 
include maize, beans, sweet potatoes, ca ssava, wheat, rice and pearl millet. Thus when bio fortified 
products are  consumed regularly, will   improve  human health and nutrition significantly.  
 
This standard has been developed to keep up with advancements of the bio fortification  food crops and to 
ensure the safety and quality of the product traded in the markets in order to safeguard the health of the 
consumers.  
 
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  
1 Scope  
This draft Tanzania Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for biofortified maize 
grains of  varieties grown from common maize  grains , Zea mays indentata  L. and/or Zea mays indurata  L. 
or their hybrids  through conventional plant breeding  intended for human consumption.  
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edit ion cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
CAC RCP 1, General principles of food hygiene  
 
CODEX STAN 193 , General standa  
rd for contaminants and toxins in food and feed  
 
TZS 538/ EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — Requirements  
 
TZS 330/ EAS 900, Cereals and pulses — Sampling   
TZS 331/ EAS 901, Cereals and pulses — Test methods  
TZS 438/ EAS 44, Maize grain –Specification  
TZS 4 Rounding of numerical values  
3 Terms and de finitions  
 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply.  AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
  
3.1 
biofortification  
is a process that enhances the nutritional value of staple food crops  by increasing the density selected 
micronutrients  in a crop through e ither conventional plant breeding, modern biotechnology, or agronomic 
practices.  
 
3.2 Biotechnology  
 
the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic 
manipulation of microorganisms for the production of ant ibiotics, hormones, etc.  
 
3.3 
conventional  plant breeding  
is the process  of crop development that entails screening germplasm for available genetic diversity,  
pre-breeding parental genotypes, developing and testing micronutrient dense germplasm, conducting  
genetic studies, and developing molecular markers to lower the costs and quicken the pace of breeding.  
 
 
3.4 
biofortified maize (corn) grain  
shelled grain or kernel of the species Zea mays indentata L. (dent maize) and/or Zea mays indurata  L. 
(flint maize ) or their hybrids enriched with beta -carotenes.  
 
3.5 
beta- carotene  
 an organic, strongly  coloured red -orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits; that gives biofortified 
maize deep yellow to deep orange colour.  
 
 
3.6  
pro-vitamin A  
is a form  of beta -carotene that can be converted within the body into a vitamin A  
 
3.7 
defective/damaged grain  
pest damaged, discoloured, stained, rotten and diseased, immature and shrivelled grains and broken 
grain  
 
3.8 
pest damaged grain  
biofortified maize grain which sho ws damage or owing attack by rodents, insects, mites or other pests  
3.9 
stained grain  
bio fortified grain/kernel whose natural colour has been altered by external factors, such as ground, soil or 
weather. This may include grain which has dark stains or dis colouration with a rough external 
appearance.  AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 3.10 
rotten and diseased grain  
 bio fortified maize grain affected by mould growth or bacterial decomposition or other causes that may be 
noticed without having to cut the grains to examine it and renders it un safe for human consumption  
 
3.11 
discoloured grain  
bio fortified maize kernel whose colour has been altered due to heat, frost or water  
3.12 
Mouldy grain  
bio fortified maize grain with visible mycelial growth on its tip or surface  
3.13 
immature and shrivel led grain  
bio fortified maize grain which is underdeveloped, thin and papery in appearance  
3.14 
broken kernels  
 pieces of biofortified maize which pass through a 4.50 mm round hole metal sieve.  
3.15 
other grains  
edible grains, whole or broken, other than bi ofortified maize, that is, cereals, pulses and other edible 
legumes  
3.16 
foreign matter  
all organic and inorganic material other than maize grain, broken kernels and other grains  
3.16.1 
inorganic matter  
stones, glass, pieces of soil and other mineral matte r 
3.16.2 
organic matter  
any animal or plant matter (seed coats, straws, weeds)  other than grain of maize, damaged maize grain, 
other grains, inorganic extraneous matter and harmful/toxic seeds  
3.17 
harmful/noxious seeds  
seeds such as Crotolaria ( Crotalaria  spp.), Corn cockle ( Agrostemma githago L .), Castor bean ( Ricinus 
communis L .), Jimson weed ( Datura spp .) which can have a damaging or dangerous effect on health, 
sensory properties or technological performance  
3.18 
filth 
impurities of animal origin  AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 3.19 
food grade packaging material  
material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use and which will not impart 
any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product  
3.20 
flint maize (corn)  
form of biofortified corn whos e mature kernel has a smooth, vitreous, appearance and a rather round 
shape  
3.21 
dent maize (corn)  
form of biofortified corn whose mature kernel has the shape of a horse’s tooth with a depression in the 
crown  
4 Classification  
4.1 Color  
Biofortified maize s hall be classified as yellow or orange colors  as follows;  
(a) yellow biofortified maize grain shall contain not more than 5 % by weight of biofortified maize of 
other colours.  
(b) orange biofortified maize grain shall contain not more than 5 % by weight of biofort ified maize of 
other colours  
4.2 Shape  
Biofortified maize grain may be classified as flint or dent or their hybrids or mixtures thereof as follows:  
a) Biofortified flint maize includes maize of any colour which consists of 95 % or more by weight of 
grains of flint maize;  
b) Biofortified  dent maize includes maize of any colour which consists of 95 % or more by weight of 
grains of dent maize; and  
c) a mixture of biofortified flint and dent maize includes maize of any colour which consists of more 
than 5 % but less th an 95 % of biofortified flint maize.  
5 Quality requirements  
5.1 General requirements  
 Biofortified maize grain shall be;  
 
practically free from foreign odours, moulds, live pests, toxic or noxious weed seeds, other edible grains 
and other injurious contami nants as determined from samples representative of the lot.  
 
Free from genetic modified maize  
 AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 5.2.1  Specific requirements  
biofortified maize grain shall comply with maximum limits given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with 
the test methods specified  therein.  
 
Table 1 ― Specific requirements for biofortified maize grain  
 
 
 
5.2.2   Requirements for  biofortified maize grains  
biofortified maize grains  shall comply with given limits in Table 2 when tested in accordance with the test 
methods specified ther ein. 
 
Table 2 — Requirements for biofortified maize grains  
 
S/N Characteristic  Minimum Limit   
 (ppm)  Test Method  
1 Pro-vitamin A (as 8 AOAC 2001.13  S/N Characteristic  Maximum limit  Test 
method   
(TZS 
331/EAS 
901) Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  
i.  Foreign matter, %, m/m  0.5 1.0 1.5 
Clause 4  
 ii.  Inorganic matter, %, m/m  0.25 0.5 0.75 
iii.  Pest damaged grains, %, m/m  1.0 3.0 5.0 
iv.  Rotten and diseased grains, %, 
m/m 1 2 3 
v.  Discoloured grains, %, m/m  1.5 2.0 2.5 
vi.  Immature and shrivelled grains, 
%, m/m  1.0 2.0 3.0 
vii.  Filth, %, m/m  0.1 
viii.  Total defective grains, %, m/m  5 9 14 
ix.  Broken kerne ls, %, m/m  2.0 4.0 6.0 
x.  Moisture, %, m/m  13.5 Clause 5  
NOTE 1  The parameter, Total defective grains is not the sum total of the individual defects. 
It is limited to 70 % of the sum total of individual defects.  
NOTE 2  The parameter, Discoloured grains is  limited to at least 25 % discolouration on 
both sides of the kernel.  AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 beta-carotene)  
 
6 Contaminants  
6.1 Pesticide residues  
Biofortified  maize  grain shall comply with those p esticide residue limits established by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.   
 
6.2 Other contaminants  
6.2.1  biofortified maize  grain shall comply with those limits for heavy metals specified in CODEX STAN 
193 established by the Codex Alimen tarius Commission.  
6.2.2  biofortified maize grain shall comply with the maximum limits for mycotoxins given in Table 3 
when tested in accordance with the test methods prescribed therein.  
Table 3 — Mycotoxin limits for bio fortified maize grain  
 
 
 
 
7 Hygiene  
Biofortified maize grains shall be produced, prepared and  handled in accordance with Refer TZS . 
8 Weights and measures  
Biofortified maize grains shall be packaged in accordance with the weights and measures regulations of 
the destination country.  
9 Packaging  
9.1 Biofortified maize grains shall be packed in food grade packaging material which will safeguard the 
hygienic, nutritional and organoleptic qualities of the products.  
9.2 Each package shall be securely closed and sealed.  S/N Mycotoxi n Maximum limit  Test method  
(TZS 331 /EAS901 ) 
i.  Total aflatoxins 
(AFB 1+AFB 2+AFG 1 +AFG 2), 
µg/kg  10 
Clause 9 or 10  
ii.  Aflatoxin B 1, µg/kg  5 
iii.  Fumonisins (B 1 +B2), mg/kg  2 Clause 11 or 12  AFDC16(6176) P3                                          
 
 
 
 10 Labelling  
10.1 Labelling of retail containers  
In addition to the requirements in TZ S 538/EAS 38, each package shall be legibly and indelibly labelled 
with the following:  
a) product name as “pro -vitamin A maize grains”,  
b) grade;  
c) name, address and physical location of the producer/packer/importer;  
d) lot/batch/code number;  
e) net weight, in kilogram s; 
f) the declaration “Food for Human Consumption’’;  
g) storage instruction as “Store in a cool dry place away from any contaminants’’;  
h) crop year;  
i) packing date;  
j) instructions on disposal of used package;  
k) country of origin; and  
l) declaration that biofortified maize is not genetically modified.  
10.2 Labelling of non -retail containers  
Information detailed in 10.1 shall be given either on the container or in accompanying documents, except 
that the name of the product, lot identification and the name and address of the p rocessor or packer as 
well as storage instructions, shall appear on the container.  
However, lot identification and the name and address of the processor or packer may be replaced by an 
identification mark provided that such a mark is clearly identifiable w ith the accompanying documents.  
Certification mark (tbs mark of quality statement)  
 
 
 
 
 AFDC16(6176) P3