TBS/AFDC 19 ( 5771) P3                                                                     
TZS 741 :2010  
ICS: 6 7.200.2 0 
 
 
 
 
                     TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
Sesame  (Simsim)  seeds – Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  TZS 741 :2010  
 
0 Foreword  
This Tanzania Standard has been prepared in order to guide producers/ processors in achieving the 
safety and quality of sesame  seeds which are fit for human consumption.  
In reporting the results of a test or analysis ma de in accordance with this  Tanzania Standard, if the final 
value observed or calculated is to be rounded off, it shall be done i n accord ance with TZS 4  (see clause 
2).  
1 Scope  
This Tanzania Standard specifies requirements and methods of sampling and tests for Sesame  (Simsim ) 
seeds (Sesamum  indicum,  Linnaeus ).  
2 References  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the app lication 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 :  
TZS 742:  2010 , Oleaginous seeds  – Sampling  
TZS 1314 : 2010 , Oleaginou s seeds -methods of test  
  
TZS 109 : 2009 , Food processing u nits – Code of hygiene – General  
 TZS 4 : 1979, Rounding off numerical values  
TZS 538 : 1999, Packaging and labeling of foods  
Codex Stan 193 -1995  General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food a nd Feed  
 
TZS 122  Microbiology of food and feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for the detection of 
salmonella spp  
 
TZS 731  Microbiology of food and feeding -stuffs – Horizontal method for the detection and 
enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli – Most P robable Number Technique  
 
 3 Terms and definitions  
For the purpose of this  Tanzania Standard the following terms and definitions shall apply:  
3.1 Sesame ( simsim ) seeds  
Product obtained from threshing capsules  of the simsim plant (Sesamum i ndicum, Linnaeus )  
3.2 impurities  
Foreign bodies other than pure seeds or parts thereof, which could consist of the following:  
3.2.1  Extraneous  matter : Dust , stalks, fibrous matter, stones, silica and debris.  
3.2.2  Admixtures : Seeds other than t hose seeds of the same variety.  
 TZS 741 :2010  
 
3.3 Moisture and v olatile matter   
the loss of mass of a test piece, when dried under specified conditions  
3.4 Oil content   
The amount of oil in the seed  
3.5 Acid value  
Number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize the fre e fatt y acids present in 1  g of 
fat, 
4 Types  
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be grouped into the following three types:  
4.1 Type 1: White seeds  
shall consist of white seeds (colour of the outer coating can range from white to cream white) containing 
less than  10.0 %, m/m, brown and/or black/ chocolate simsim seeds, as determined by the method 
prescribed in 3.1.5 of TZS 1314  (see clause 2).  
4.2 Type 2: Mixed seeds  
shall consist of a mixture of white, brown and black/chocolate seeds containing less or equal to  90.0 %, 
m/m, white seeds as determined by the method prescrib ed in 3.1.5 of TZS  1314  (see clause 2).  
4.3 Type 3: Coloured seeds  
Shall  consist o f uniform ly coloured seeds, brown/ black or chocolate, containing not more than 10  %, m/m, 
white, black/ chocolate sims im.  
5 Grades  
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds of all  types prescribed in clause 4 , shall be graded as grade 1  and 2 sesame 
(simsim ) seeds , depending on the requirements prescribed in clause 6.  
6 Requirements  
6.1 General requirements  
6.1.1 Sesame (Simsim)  seeds of  all types shall be wholesome , free from insect damage.  
6.1.2 Sesame (Simsim) seeds shall be free from living and dead insects, moulds, mites, insect fragments, 
excrements and rodent contamination visible to the naked eye (corrected if necessary, for abnor mal 
vision) or with such magnification as may be necessary in any particular case, or otherwise specified by 
the contract If the magnification exceeds x 10, this fact shall be stated in the test report.  
 
6.1.3 Sesame (Simsim) seeds of both types shall comp ly with the grading requirements given in table 1.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TZS 741 :2010  
 
Table 1 – Grading requirements for  sesame  (simsim ) seeds  
 
Characteristics   Requirements  Methods of test  
TZS 1314  
       
c
l
(
s
e
e
c
c
l
a
u
s
e  
      
 Grade 1   Grade 2   Clause  
Moisture content     
  
and volatile      
matter, % (m/m),      
max.  7.5   7.5  3.2.1  
Impurities, %      
(m/m), max.  1   2  3.1  
    ,  Oil content (on      
moisture and      
impurity free      
basis), % (m/m),      
min.  50   48  3.2.2  
Acid val ue of      
extracted oil, max.   4   6  3.2.3  
 
7 Sampling and methods of test  
7.1 Sampling  
Sampling of sesame ( simsim ) seeds shall be done in accordance with TZS 742 (see clause2)  
7.2 Methods of tests  
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be tested in accordance with TZS  1314  (see clause 2).  
8 Contaminants  
 
8.1 Metal contaminants  
 
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall comply with those maximum metal contaminants stipulated in Codex Stan 
193-1995 (See clause 2)  
 
8.2 Pesticide residues  
 
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds  shall comply with  those maximum residue limits established by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.  
8.3 Mycotoxins  
The maximum contents of aflatoxins in sesame ( simsim ) seeds, when determined in accordance with 
the method described in TZS 1314:2010 (see cl ause 2), shall be 5 ppb for aflatoxin B 1 and 10 ppb for 
total aflatoxin.  TZS 741 :2010  
 
9 Hygiene  
9.1 Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be processed in accordance with TZS 109 (see clause 2) .  
9.2 Sesame (Simsim) seeds shall be free from pathogenic microorganisms and shall co mply with the 
microbiological limits given in table 2  
 
TABLE 2: Microbiological requirements  
 
S/No.  Organism  Maximum limit  Method of Test   
 
1. 
 
2. 
. Salmonella per 25 g  
 
E. coli MPN/g  Shall be absent  
 
Shall be absent  TZS 122  
 
   TZS 731  
 
10 Packing, m arking and labeling  
10.1 Packing  
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be packed in n ew, clean, dry sound gunny bags, polythene bags or any 
other material which shall not be a source of contamination, shall be a food grade and protect the product 
quality during tr ansportation and storage.   
10.2 Marking  and labeling  
10.2.1  Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall also be packed, marked and labeled i n accordance with TZS 538  
(see clause 2). In addition the  following particulars shall be marked or labeled legibly and indelibly on  
each container:  
a) Name  of the product and trade name or brand name, if any;  
b) Name  and address of the producer/seller;  
c) Type  and grade;  
d) Date  of packing;  
e) Best before date  
f) Net weight  in kg;  
g) Country  of origin;  
h) Year of harvest  
i) Sto rage condition s 
10.2.2 The containers may also be marked with TBS Standards Mark of Quality.  
 
NOTE – The TBS Standards Mark of Quality may be used by the manufacturers only under license 
from TBS. Particulars of conditions under which the licenses are gra nted, may be obtained from 
TBS.  TZS 741 :2010  
 
11 Storage and transportation  
11.1 Storage  
11.1.1 Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be stored in a well ventilated environment. The bags s hall be 
stacked on pallet s. They shall be stored in leak proof  warehouses.  
11.1.2 Wareho uses should have insect repellers or killers .  
11.2 Transportation  
Sesame ( Simsim ) seeds shall be transported in well secured wagons/trucks/ containers to avoid loss and 
spoilage .