PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS DEAS 757 
    Third Edition 
2018 -mm- dd 
 
 Reference number  
DUS DEAS 757: 2018 
© UNBS 2018 
   
Sorghum grains ― Specification  
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 757: 2018 
ii                © UNBS  2018 - 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 2018 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala 
Uganda 
Tel: +256 417 333 250/1/2 
Fax: +256 414 286 123 
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
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 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 757: 2018 
© UNBS  2018 - All rights reserved                iii National foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established 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 on 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 public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Draft Uganda Standard, DUS DEAS 757: 2018, Sorghum grains ― Specification , is identical with and 
has been reproduced from an International Standard, DEAS 757: 2018, Sorghum grains ― Specification , and 
is being proposed for adoption as a Uganda Standard. 
This standard was developed by the Subcommittee on Cereals, pulses and related products , SC 3, under the 
Food and agriculture Standards Technical Committee (UNBS/TC 2 ). 
Wherever the wo rds, “ East African Standard " appear, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard." 
This standard cancels and replaces US EAS 757: 2013, Sorghum grains  ― Specification , which has been 
technically revised. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
 
DEAS 757:2018 
 
 
ICS 67.060 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
 
 
 
Sorghum grains — Specification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© EAS 2018 Second Edition 2018  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
  
 
 
DEAS 757:2013  
 
 
 
Copyright notice 
 
This EAC document is copyright-protected by EAC. While the reproduction of this document by 
participants in the EAC standards development process is permitted without prior permission from 
EAC, neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in 
any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from EAC. 
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addres sed as shown below or to EAC’s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
© East African Community 2013 — All rights reserved 
East African Community 
P.O.Box 1096 
Arusha 
Tanzania 
Tel: 255 27 2504253/8 
Fax: 255 27 2504481/2504255 
E-mail: eac@eachq.org 
Web: www.eac-quality.net 
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be persecuted 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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DEAS 757:2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents   
 
 
Foreword  ................................................................................................................................................. iv  
1 Scope  ............................................................................................................................................ 1  
2 Normative references  .................................................................................................................. 1  
3 Terms and definitions  ................................................................................................................. 2  
4 Quality requirements  ................................................................................................................... 2 
4.1 General requirements  ................................................................................................................. 2 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................................................................................................. 3  
5 Contaminants  ...............................................................................................................................  5 
5.1 Pesticide residues  .......................................................................................................................  5 
5.2 Other contaminants  ..................................................................................................................... 5  
6 Hygiene  ......................................................................................................................................... 5  
7 Packaging  ..................................................................................................................................... 5  
8 Labelling  ....................................................................................................................................... 6  
9 Sampling  ....................................................................................................................................... 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
.  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
 DEAS 757:2013 
 
 
 
Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing 
requirements governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged 
that through harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services 
are exchanged within the Community will be removed. 
 
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African Standards Committee 
mandated to develop and issue East African Standards. 
 
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, 
together with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East 
African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner 
States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the procedures of the Community.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the 
East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of 
the standards  
they are implementing.  
EAS 757:2013 was prepared by Technical Committee EAS/TC 014, Cereals, Pulses and related products 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
  
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                                                             DEAS 757:2018  
 
 
Sorghum grains — Specification 
 
1 Scope 
 
This East African Standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for sorghum 
grains of varieties (cultivars) grown from Sorghum bicolor  (L.) Moench intended for human 
consumption.  
 
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 amendments) applies. 
 
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification 
 
EAS 39, Code of Hygiene Practice in Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry 
 
       EAS 901, Cereal and Pulses - Test methods 
       
       EAS 900, Cereal and Pulses - Sampling  
 
ISO 9648, Sorghum – Determination of tannin   
CODEX STAN 193, Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed 
 
  
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply. 
 
3.1 
Sorghum grain 
dried grain having the characteristics of the varieties (cultivars) grown from Sorghum bicolor  (L.) Moench 
 
3.2 
Broken grain  
pieces of sorghum grain which pass through a screen having round holes of 1.8mm in diameter 
 
3.3 
Defective/ damaged grain   
pest damaged, discoloured, stained, rotten and diseased, immature and shrivelled grains and broken 
grain . 
 
 
3.4  
pest damaged grain  
grains that shows damage or owing attack by rodents, insects, mites or other pests  
 
 
3.5   
diseased grains - 
grains damaged by decay or rotting, moulds, or bacterial decomposition, and/or other causes that may 
be noticed without having to cut the grains open to examine them. 
 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
 3.6  
discoloured grains  
kernel that is damaged by heat,frost or water. 
 
 
3.7  
foreign matter 
all organic and inorganic material other than maize grain, broken kernels and other grains 
 
3.7.1 
inorganic matter 
stones, glass, pieces of soil and other mineral matter 
 
3.7.2 
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 
 
3.8  
immature and/or shrivelled 
grains that are not properly developed and/or fully green in colour. 
 
3.9    
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 
 
3.10   
sprouted grains with visible evidence of root system beginning to emerge 
 
3.11  
test weight 
density of a measured volume of grain expressed in kilograms per hectolitre 
 
 
3.12  
food grade packaging material 
packaging 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 
 
3.13  filth 
 impurities of animal origin like dead insects.  
   
 
4. Classification   
 
Sorghum shall be classified as red, pink, brown, orange, yellow, white or a ny mixture of these colors 
according to the buyer preference. 
                    PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
  5.0 Quality Requirements  5.1 General Requirement 
The dried mature grains of Sorghum bicolor  (L.) Moench, shall be:  
 
a) clean, wholesome, uniform in size and shape;  
 
b) well-filled grains  of uniform colour; 
 
c) free from musty or other undesirable odour. 
 
d) practically free from live pests; 
 
e) practically free from noxious or harmful seeds in amounts that could be harmful to human 
health.  
 
 
 5.2 Specific requirements 
 
Sorghum grains shall comply with the limits given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with the test 
methods specified therein 
 
 
  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
 Table 1 — Specific requirements for sorghum grains 
 
S/N   Characteristic   Grade   Method of  
         
test       
1 2 3        
        EAS 901  
i) Moisture, % m/m max.    13.5   
          
         
ii) Test weight, kg/hl min.   71 62 62  
          
          
        
iii)  0.3  0.4  0.5   
 in organic  matter  %  m/m,  
max     
          
iv) Foreign matter, % m/m, max.        0.5 1.5   2.0  
        
V  Filth , % m/m, max.  0.1  0.1  0.1  
 
      
         
        
 vii) Tanni
n content  (on  dry  
matter  Whole grains   0.5  ISO 9648  
 
basis), %  m/m, max.        
  
  
      
      
viii 
 Defective   Discolored  1.5  2.0 2.5   
 grains, % 
by        
 
 Diseased grain   
1.0  2.0  3.0   
 Perce
ntage 
,    
        
  
  
 
max.    
   
  
Immature grain(fully green in colour)  1.0  2.0  3.0   
    
         
    broken   0.5  1.0 2.0   
         
   
  
   
   Pest damaged grains  1 3 5  
  Total defective   4 7 11  
ix)  Other edible grains  
, % m/m, max.    1.6    
      
NOTE : 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.  
        
          PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
  
6 Contaminants 
6.1         Pesticide residues 
 
Sorghum grains shall comply with those maximum pesticide residue limits established by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity. 
 
NOTE Where the use of certain pesticides is prohibited by some Partner States, it should be notified to all 
Partner States accordingly. 
 
6.2      Other contaminants 
 
Sorghum grains shall comply with those maximum limits for other contaminants established in CODEX 
STAN 193. 
 
6.2.1 Heavy metals  
Sorghum grain shall comply with those limits for heavy metals specified in CODEX STAN 193 established by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission. 
 
6.2.2  Mycotoxin 
Sorghum grain shall comply with the mycotoxin limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as 
given in Table 2 when tested in accordance with the test methods specified therein  
 
Table 2 — Mycotoxins limits for Sorghum grains 
S/N Mycotoxin  limit 
 Test method  
i.  Total Aflatoxin 
(AFB 1+AFB 2+AFG 1+AFG 2), 
ppb, max  10 EAS901 , Clause 9 or 
10 
ii.  Aflatoxin B 1  ppb, max  5 
iii.  Fumonisins ppm, max  2 EAS901  Clause 10 or 
11 
 
7  Hygiene 
Sorghum grains shall be produced, prepared and handled in accordance with the provisions of  appropriate 
sections of EAS 39 
 
8. Weights and measures  
Sorghum grains shall be packaged in accordance with the weights and measures regulations of the 
destination country. 
NOTE: EAC Partner States are signatory to the International Labour Organizations (ILO) for maximum package weight 
of 50 kg where human loading and offloading is involved 
 
 
9. Packaging 
  Sorghum grains shall be packed in food grade packaging materials which will safeguard the hygienic, 
nutritional and organoleptic qualities of the product . 
 
 
9.2 Each package shall be securely closed and sealedPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT© EAC 2018 – All rights reserved  1 
  
10  Labelling 
 
10.1  
In addition to the requirements in EAS 38, each package shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the 
following: 
a) product name as “ Whole Sorghum Grains”;  
b) grade; 
c) name, address and physical location of the producer/packer/importer; 
d) lot/batch/code number; 
e) net weight, in kilograms; 
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 on whether the Sorghum was genetically modified, where applicable. 
 
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 processor 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 with the accompanying documents. 
 
 
11  Sampling 
 
Sampling shall be done in accordance with the EAS 900. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 EAS 757:2013  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  .