DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 1636 
First Edition  
2016-mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 1636: 2016 
© UNBS 2016   
  
Shea nut ─ Specification   
 DUS 1636: 2016 
ii © UNBS 2016– All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2016   
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
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Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
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Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DUS 1636:2016 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Quality and compositional requirem ents................................ ................................ ............................  2 
4.1 General quality requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  2 
4.1.1  Shea nuts  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  2 
4.1. 2 Shea kernels  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
4.2 Specific quality requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  3 
5 Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
6 Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  4 
6.1 Pesticide residues  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 4 
6.2 Other contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  4 
6.3 Chemical contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  4 
7 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
8 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  4 
9 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  4 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
 
. DUS 1636: 2016 
iv © UNBS 2016– All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives establish ed under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission o n Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT  Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in  a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general pu blic for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
DUS 163 6 was prepared by Technical Committee TC 2-SC 2, Oil Seeds, Edible Fats  and Oils.  
 
 DUS 1636:2016 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  v 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 1636: 2016  
 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  1 
 Shea nut ─ Specification  
1 Scope  
This standard specifies the quality requirements, methods of sampling and testing for  sheanut/ kernel 
originating from fruits of the tree Vitellaria paradoxa Cf Gaertn of the  family Sapotaceae which is processed 
into fat/oil and oth er products destined for human  use. 
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 re ferenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — Specification  
EAS 39, Code of practice for hygiene for food and drink  manufacturing  industries  
US ISO 542 , oil seeds - Sampling  
US ISO 660 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Determination of acid value and acidity.  
US ISO 662, Animal and vegetable fats and oils  Determination of moisture and volatile matter content  
US ISO 663, Animal and vegetable fats and oils  Determination of insoluble impurities content  
ISO 2590, General method for determining of arsenic — Diethyldithiocarbamate photometric method  
US ISO 3960 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Determination of peroxide value.  
US ISO 8294 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Determination of copper, iron, and nickel content.  
US ISO 12193 , Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Determination of lead by direct graphite furnace atomic 
absorption spectroscopy.  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall  apply. 
3.1  
Shea nut  
de-pulped Fruits of the tree Vitellaria paradoxa Cf Gaertn.  
3.2  
Shea kernel  
decorticated (shelled) nut of the tree Vitellaria paradoxa Cf Gaertn.   
2 © UNBS 2016– All rights reserved  
 3.3  
Damaged nuts/kernels  
nuts/kernels which are damaged mechanically, or by mould or weevi ls, or those showing internal discoloration 
of kernels which affects the quality. Characteristics of damaged kernels include mildewed, germinated and 
hardened (blackened).  
3.4  
Mouldy/decayed kernels  
kernels with evidence of mould particularly mould filame nts and showing visible significant decomposition.  
3.5  
Empty nuts  
nuts in which there are no kernels.  
3.6 
 Shrivelled nuts/kernels  
Nuts/kernels which are imp erfectly developed and shrunken,  
3.7  
Broken kernels  
kernels from which more than a quarter has be en broken off.  
3.9 
 Split kernels  
kernels which have been split into halves.  
3.10 
Impurities  
all matter other than whole sheanuts/kernels. Impurities includes: sand, stones, pebbles,  dirt, lumps of earth, 
clay, mud, glass, metallic and plastic pieces, othe r vegetative  materials such as grass, wood, bits of dry 
sheanuts/kernels or other seeds and filth.  
3.11  
Filth  
filth includes impurities of animal origin, including dead insects.  
3.12  
Insect infestation  
presence of live insects, or their eggs and I or oth er developmental stages.  
3.13 
food grade packaging material  
packaging material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for the intended use and which will not 
impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product  
4 Quality and c ompositional requirements  
4.1 General quality requirements  
4.1.1  Shea nuts  
Shea  nuts shall ; 
i. have the appearance and colour characteristic of the variety.  
ii. Be clean and reasonably uniform in size.  DUS 1636: 2016 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  3 
 iii. be free from insect infestation.  
4.1. 2  Shea kernels  
Shea kernels shall ; 
i. have the appearance  and colour characteristic of the variety.  
ii. be clean and reasonably uniform in  size.  
iii. be safe and suitable for processing for human use and  
iv. be free from rancid odours and mustiness.  
v. be free from insect infestation.  
vi. Total fat content of shea  kernel shall not be less than 35% m/m  
4.2 Specific quality  requirements  
4.2.1  Shea kernel  shall comply with requirements specified in Table 1.  
Table 1  Specific quality  requirements of shea  kernel  
S/No Parameters  Grade  
I Grade  
II Grade 
III Method 
of test  
i) Moisture and matter volatile at 
105 oC, % m/m . 5 max.  >5-<7 7-8 US ISO 
662 
ii) Impurities % m/m  0.5 max  >0.5 -0.8 >0.8-1 US ISO 
663 
xi) Free Fatty Acid, % m/m,  2 max >2-4 >4- 5 US ISO 
660 
xii) Peroxide value, mEq peroxide 
oxygen/kg oil . 5max.  >5- 9 >9-15 US ISO 
3960  
 
4.2.2  Shea nut/kernel  shall comply with Physical defects  requirements specified in Table 2.  
Table 2 - Requirements for physical defects in shea nuts/kernels  
S/No.  Characteristic  Shea nut  Shea 
Kernel  
1 Damaged nuts/kernels, % (m/m) max.  0.5 0.5 
2 Shrivelled nuts/kernels,  
% (m/m) max.  3 3 
3 Mouldy/decayed kernels% 2 2 
(m/m) max.  2 2 
4 Skinned kernels, % (m/m) max.  - 0.5 
5 Broken and split kernels,  
% (m/m) max.  - 2 
6 Empty nuts, % (m/m)max.  2 -  
4 © UNBS 2016– All rights reserved  
 7 Admixtures of other varieties,  
% (m/m) max.  1 1 
5 Hygiene  
Shea kernel  shall be produced, prepared and handled in accordance with EAS 39  
6 Contaminants  
6.1 Pesticide residues  
Shea kernel  shall comply with those maximum pesticide residue limits established by the Code x Alimentarius 
Commission for this commodity.  
6.2 Other contaminants  
Shea kernel  shall comply with those maximum limits specified in Table 3. 
Table 3 — Limits for contaminants in Shea  kernel  
S. No.  Contaminant  Maximum level  Method of 
test 
 Iron, mg/kg  5.0 US ISO 
8294  ii) Copper, mg/kg  0.4 
iv) Lead, mg/kg  0.1 US ISO 
12193  
v) Arsenic, mg/kg  0.1 ISO 2590  
 
6.3 Chemical contaminants  
The Aflatoxin content of shea kernel shall not be more than 10 ppm . 
7 Packaging  
Shea  kernel  shall be packaged in food grade  containers  and sealed in manner to ensure the safety and quality 
requirements specified in this standard are maintained throughout the shelf life of the product.  
8 Labelling  
In addition to the labeling requirements  in EAS 38, the following shall be indic ated:  
The name of the product shall be ‘’Shea butter’’  
9 Sampling  
Sampling shall be carried in accordance with US ISO 5 42 
 DUS 1636: 2016 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  5 
   
6 © UNBS 2016– All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] ARS shea -k, African standard for shea kernel , 2011 
[2] Global Shea Alliance, Industry quality Standards for shea n ut, proposal to general assembly, 2013  
[3]  Quality and compliance to standards forShea products ,  DUS 1636 : 2016 
© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved  7 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in th e figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standa rds and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained fr om the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 DUS 1635 : 2016   
 
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