TAS  4702-XXXX  
THAI AGRICULTURAL STANDARD 
PEANUT KERNEL : MAXIMU M LEVEL OF AFLATOXIN 
1. SCOPE 
This standard establishes aflatoxin level and control measures  for dried peanut kernel, as raw 
material for further processing as food in order to regulate the producers, traders and 
inspection of produced, imported or exported dried peanut kernel. 
2. DEFINITIONS 
For the purpose of this standard: 
2.1 Aflatoxin means mycotoxin that is produced by fungi species, especially Aspergillus 
flavus  and Aspergillus parasiticus . In general at least four type s of aflatoxin are produced and 
found in peanuts, namely aflatoxin B1  and B2 and aflatoxin G1 and G2. 
2.2 Total aflatoxins mean the sum of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2.  2.3 Dried in-shell means a stripped peanut pod after sun-drying or mechanical drying. 2.4 Peanut kernel means a kernel obtained af ter the dried pod has been shelled, excluding 
seed. 
2.5 Peanut kernel producer means person who performs commercial transaction of shelling 
activities including collector, packer, and warehouse operator, for commercial purposes. 
3. AFLATOXIN LEVEL AND CONTROL 
3.1 Maximum level of total aflatoxins in peanut kernel shall not exceed 20 
microgram/kilogram. 
3.2 The peanut kernel producer shall have control measures in place as follows:  3.2.1 Mouldy kernel, broken kernel, damaged kern el and foreign matters shall be sorted 
before distribution and recorded as evidence. Such defective kernel shall be separated in 
clearly labelled container, and shall not be marketed for human consumption or processed 
into food products. 
3.2.2 To ensure that peanut kernel is in comp liance with Section 3.1, the peanut producer as a 
shelling manufacturer shall be required to test aflatoxin level of each lot of peanut kernel 
prior to distribution.   In case of collector, p acker, and warehouse operator, the aflatoxin level 
in peanut kernel shall be randomly tested duri ng storage and the test result shall be kept for 
inspection by conformity assessment body or official inspector as requested. 
3.2.3 The records of Section 3.2.1 and Section 3.2.2 shall be kept for at least 2 years. -DRAFT- TAS  4702-XXXX  2 
3.3 Peanut kernel exporter shall have the evid ence showing that exported peanut kernel is 
produced by the licensed and certified peanut kernel producer in accordance with this 
standard accompanying with the test result show ing that aflatoxin level does not exceed the 
maximum level as required by trading-partner countries. 
3.4 Peanut kernel importer shall have the evid ence showing that imported peanut kernel is 
produced from peanut kernel producer who has control measure in place as specified in 
Section 3.2 accompanying with the test result issu ed by the competent authority or recognised 
laboratory showing that aflatoxin level does not exceed the maximum level specified in 
Section 3.1.  
4. METHODS OF SAMPLING  
The methods specified in the most updated ve rsion of an Annex to the CODEX STAN 193 
General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins  in Foods and Feeds or Appendix A of this 
standard shall be applied.  
5. METHODS OF ANALYSIS FOR AFLATOXIN  
5.1 Methods of analysis for total af latoxins are shown in Table 1: 
                                   Table 1 Methods of analysis for total aflatoxins 
                                                                 (Section 5.1) 
Requirement Method of analysis1/ Principle 
Total aflatoxins AOAC 991.31 
 Immunoaffinity column  
(Aflatest) 
AOAC 993.17  Thin layer 
chromatography 
AOAC 975.36 Romer minicolumn 
EN 12955 
ISO 16050  HPLC with post column 
derivatization and immunoaffinity column clean up 
AOAC 979.18 
 Holaday-Velasco 
minicolumn 
 
 
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1/ Referring to the most updated edition   3                                                 TAS  4702-XXXX  
5.2 In case unable to be analysed as of Table 1, an alternative method shall be selected 
according to its sensitivity for detecting aflat oxin at or below the maximum level of total 
aflatoxins as specified in Section 3.1 and its  performance characteristics shall be deemed 
appropriate and in compliance with one of the following criteria. 
5.2.1 The method issued by the national competen t authority or international standard 
organization or published manuals or other publications as internationally accepted. 
5.2.2 The method validated by laboratories through collaborative studies in accordance with 
internationally accepted guidelines. 
5.2.3 In case none of the above mentioned met hods is available, the method validated by 
single laboratory validation in accordance w ith internationally accepted guideline is 
acceptable. 
5.2.4 Aflatoxin test kit is used for initial screen ing for the control and test of aflatoxin by 
peanut kernel producer according to Section 3.2.2. Such test kit shall be validated. 
 TAS  4702-XXXX  4 
APPENDIX A 
METHOD OF SAMPLING FOR AFLATO XIN ANALYSIS IN PEANUT KERNEL 
(Section 4) 
Sampling of peanut kernel shall be conducte d in such a way that these samples are 
represented the entire lot with the details described as follows:  
A.1 The material taken from a single random place in the lot or sublot (incremental sample) 
shall be about 200 grams. 
A.2 Number of incremental samples to be taken depends on the weight of the lot specified in 
Table A.1 and A.2 
Table A.1  Lot weight, sublots, Number of increm ental samples, Laboratory sample weight 
for the lot weight larger than 15 tonnes. 
                                                                      (Section A.2) 
Lot weight (tonne) We ight or Number  
of Sublots Number of 
incremental samples Laboratory sample 
weight (kg) 
> 500 100 tonnes 100 20 
> 125 - 500 5 sublots 100 20 
> 25 - 125  25 tonnes 100 20 
> 15 - 25 1 sublot 100 20 
Sources:  
1.Manual for Testing and Certification Service of Agricultural Commodity for Export, 
Department of Agriculture (2012) 
2.Commission Regulation (EC) No.401/2006 of  23 February 2006 laying down the methods 
of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs 
3.Commission Regulation (EU) No.178/2010 of March 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 
401/2006 as regards groundnuts (peanuts), other oilseeds, tree nuts, apricot kernels, 
liquorice and vegetable 
4. Annex to CODEX STAN 193 General Standar d for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and 
Feed)   5                                                 TAS  4702-XXXX  
Table A.2  Lot weight, Number of incremental sample s, Laboratory sample weight for the lot 
weight less than 15 tonnes. 
                                                                      (Section A.2) 
Lot weight (tonne) Number of 
incremental 
samples Aggregate sample 
Weight (kg)  Number of laboratory samples 
< 0.1 10 2 1 
> 0.1 -  0.2 15 3 1 
> 0.2 -  0.5 20 4 1 
> 0.5 -  1.0  30 6 1 
> 1.0 -  2.0 40 8 1 
> 2.0 -  5.0 60 12 2 samples at equal weight
> 5.0 -  10.0 80 16 2 samples at equal weight
> 10.0 -  15.0 100 20 2 samples at equal weight
Sources:  
1.Manual for Testing and Certification Service of Agricultural Commodity for Export, 
Department of Agriculture (2012) 
2.Commission Regulation (EC) No.401/2006 of  23 February 2006 laying down the methods 
of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of mycotoxins in foodstuffs 
3.Commission Regulation (EU) No.178/2010 of March 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 
401/2006 as regards groundnuts (peanuts), other oilseeds, tree nuts, apricot kernels, 
liquorice and vegetable 
4. Annex to CODEX STAN 193 General Standar d for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and 
Feed)  
A.3 In case of vacuum pack 
A.3.1 For lot weight larger than 15 tonnes, at  least 50 incremental samples shall be taken 
resulting in a 20 kg aggregate sample.  
A.3.2 For lot weight of equal to or less than  15 tonnes, 50% of the number of incremental 
samples as shown in Table A.2 shall be taken resulting in an aggregate sample of which the 
weight corresponds to the weight of the sampled lot.