DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS EAS 284 
Second  Edition  
2013-mm-dd 
 
 Reference number  
FDUS EAS 284: 2013 
© UNBS 201 3 
  
Pearl millet grains — Specification  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDUS EAS 284: 2013 
ii                © UN BS 2013 - 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 2013 
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 41 505 995 
Fax: 256 41 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDUS EAS 284: 2013 
© UNBS  2013 - All rights reserved                iii National foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 3 27, of the Laws of Uganda. 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/SPS Agreements 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 Final Draft Uganda Standard, FDUS EAS 284 : 2013, Pearl millet grains  — Specification , is identical with  
and has been reproduced from an East African  Standard , EAS 284: 2013 , Pearl millet grains  — Specification , 
and is being proposed for adoption as a Uganda Standard.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (US EAS 284:2011) which has been technically 
revised. 
Wherever the words, “ East African Standard" appear, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard." 
 
  DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD FDEAS 284 :2013 
ICS 67.060  
© EAS 2013                                                                                                                         Second Edition 2013  
 
FINAL DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
Pearl millet grains — Specification 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDDRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDEAS 284:2013 
ii © EAC  2013  – All rights reserved  
 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 addressed 
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 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDEA S 284:2013 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents Page 
Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ............................................................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ...........................................................  1 
4 Quality requirements ................................ ................................ .............................................................  2 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ...........................................................  2 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ...........................................................  3 
5 Contaminants  ................................................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 5 
5.1 Pesticide res idues  ................................ ................................................................ ................................ . 5 
5.2 Other contaminants  ................................ ................................ ...............................................................  5 
6 Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 5 
7 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 5 
8 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 6 
9 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 6 
 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDEAS 284:2013 
iv © EAC  2013  – All rights reserved  
 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 .  
FDEAS 2 84:2013 was prepared by Technical Committee EAS/TC 014 , Cereals, Pulses and related products  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (EAS 284:2002) which has been technically revised. 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDEA S 284:2013 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  v 
 Introduction 
This standard has been developed to take into account: 
a) the needs of the market for the product;  
b) the need to facilitate fair domestic, regional and international trade and prevent technical barriers to 
trade by establishing a common trading language for buyers and sellers; 
c) the structure of the CODEX, UNECE, USA, ISO and other internationally significant standards; 
d) the needs of the producers in gaining knowledge of market standards, conformity assessment, 
commercial cultivars and crop production process; 
e) the need to transport the product in a manner that ensures keeping of quality until it reaches the 
consumer; 
f) the need for the plant protection authority to certify, through a simplified form, that the product is fit for 
cross-border and international trade without carrying plant disease vectors; 
g) the need to promote good agricultural practices that will enhance wider market access, involvement of 
small-scale traders and hence making farming a viable means of wealth creation; and 
h) the need to ensure a reliable production base of consistent and safe crops that meet customer 
requirements. 
 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDDRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFINAL DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  FDEAS 284:2013 
 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  1 
 Pearl millet grains — Specification 
1 Scope 
This Final Draft East African Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for whole 
and decorticated pearl millet of the Senegalese varieties (cultivars) ―souna‖ and ―sanio‖ grown from 
Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. 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, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry — Code of practice 
EAS 79, Cereals and pulses as grain — Methods of sampling 
EAS 217, Methods for the microbiological examination of foods 
ISO 520, Cereals and pulses — Determination of the mass of 1000 grains 
ISO 605, Pulses — Determination of impurities, size, foreign odours, insects, and species and variety — Test 
methods 
ISO 711, Cereals and cereal products — Determination of moisture content (Basic reference method) 
ISO 712, Cereals and cereal products — Determination of moisture content — Routine reference method 
ISO 7971-1, Cereals — Determination of bulk density, called mass per hectolitre — Part 1: Reference method 
ISO 7971-3, Cereals — Determination of bulk density, called mass per hectolitre — Part 3: Routine method 
ISO 13690, Cereals, pulses and milled products — Sampling of static batches 
ISO 16050, Foodstuffs — Determination of aflatoxin B 1, and the total content of aflatoxin B 1, B2, G 1 and G 2 in 
cereals, nuts and derived products  — High performance liquid chromatographic method 
ISO 20483, Cereals and pulses — Determination of the nitrogen content and calculation of the crude protein 
content — Kjeldahl method 
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. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD 
2 © EAC  2013  – All rights reserved  
 3.1 
pearl millet grain 
whole or decorticated  grain  of the species Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. 
3.2 
whole  
grains of pearl millet obtained after proper threshing 
3.3 
decorticated  
grains of pearl millet from which the outer parts have been removed in an appropriate manner using 
mechanical treatment (for example abrasion) 
3.4 
foreign matter 
organic and inorganic material other than pearl millet, broken kernels, other grains and filth. Foreign matter 
includes loose pearl millet seed coats. 
3.5 
other edible grains 
edible grains (including oil seeds) other than the one which is under consideration  
3.6 
damaged  
grains that are broken, sprouted or  damaged as a result of heat, microbe, moisture or weather 
3.7 
immature and shrivelled  
grains that are not properly developed 
3.8 
weeviled  
grains that are partially or wholly bored by insects injurious to grains but does not include germ eaten grains 
and egg spotted grains 
3.9 
poisonous, toxic and/or harmful seeds 
seeds which if present in quantities above permissible limit may have damaging or dangerous effect on health, 
organoleptic properties or technological performance such as Jimson weed — Datura ( D. fastuosa  Linn and 
D. stramonium  Linn.) corn cokle ( Agrostemma githago  L., Machai Lallium remulenum  Linn.) Akra (Vicia 
species) , Argemone mexicana , Khesari and other seeds that are commonly recognized as harmful to health 
4 Quality requirements 
4.1 General requirements 
Pearl millet shall be: 
a) the dried mature grains of Pennisetum ( glaucum ) americanum Linn.; 
b) hard, clean, wholesome, uniform in size, colour and in sound merchantable condition; 
c) safe and suitable for human consumption; 
d) free from abnormal flavours, obnoxious smell and discolouration; 
e) in form of well-filled seeds of uniform colour; and DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  3 
 f) free from micro-organisms and substances originating from micro-organisms or other poisonous or 
deleterious substances in amounts that may constitute a hazard to human health. 
4.2 Specific requirements 
Pearl millet shall be categorised into three grades on the basis of the tolerable limits established in Table 1.  DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD 
4 © EAC  2013  – All rights reserved  
 Table 1 — Specific requirements for pearl millet grains 
S/N Characteristic  Grade Method of test  
1 2 3 
i) Foreign matter*, 
whole grains, % 
m/m, max . Organic  0.25 0.50 0.75  
ISO 605  Inorganic  0.10 0.25 0.25 
ii) Foreign matter*, decorticated, % m/m, 
max. 0.5 
iii) Other edible grains, % m/m, max. 2.0 2.5 3.0 
iv) Damaged gr ain, % m/m, max .  1.0 2.0 4.0 
v) Immature and shrivelled, % m/m, max . 3.0 5.0 8.0 
vi) Weevil ed grains %  by count  2.5 4.0 6.0 
vii) Moisture content , % m/m, max.  14 ISO 711/ ISO 712 
viii) Crude p rotein  (on dry matter basis)  % 
m/m , min. 8.0 ISO 20483  
ix) Ergot affected grains  % m/m, max.  0.05 EAS 82  
x) Fat content, (on dry matter basis)  % 
m/m 
 whole millet grains  
 decorticated millet grains  3.5 to 6.0  
2.0 to 4.0  ISO 5986  
xi) Total ash (decorticated) % m/m, max . 1.0 EAS 82  
xii) Tannin content, % m/m, max. 0.5 ISO 9648  
xiii) 1000 Kernel weigh t, g 
 Whole millet grains  
 Decorticated millet grains  5.0 to 10.0  
4.0 to 8.0  ISO 520  
xiv) One litre weight, g  750 to 820  ISO 7971 -1/ISO 
7971 -3 
xv) Crude fibre , % m/m  
 whole millet grains  
 decorticated millet grains  % 
m/m max.  3.0 to 4.5  
2.0 ISO 5498  
 
xvi) Total Aflatoxin (AFB 1+AFB 2+AFG 1 
+AFG 2), ppb , max. 10 ISO 16050  
 
xvii) Aflatoxin B 1, ppb , max. 5 
xviii) Fumonisin ppm, max. 2 AOAC 2001.04  
* Foreign matter is mineral or organic matter (dust, twigs, seed coats, se eds of other species, dead insects, fragments, or 
remains of insects, other impurities of animal origin). Pearl millet grains shall have not more than 1  % extraneous matter of 
which not more than 0.25  % shall be mineral matter and not more than 0.10  % shal l be dead insects, fragments or remains of 
insects, and/or other impurities of animal origin.  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved  5 
 5 Contaminants 
5.1 Pesticide residues 
Pearl millet 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. 
5.2 Other contaminants 
Pearl millet grains shall comply with those maximum limits for other contaminants established in CODEX 
STAN 193. 
6 Hygiene 
6.1 Pearl millet shall be produced, prepared and handled in accordance with the provisions of appropriate 
sections of EAS 39.  
6.2 When tested by appropriate standards of sampling and examination listed in Clause 2, the products 
shall: 
a) be free from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health and shall not exceed 
the limits stipulated in Table 2; 
b) be free from parasites which may represent a hazard to health; and 
c) not contain any substance originating from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard 
to health. 
Table 2 — Microbiological limits  
S/N Type of micro -organism  Limits  Method   of test 
i) Yeasts and moulds, cfu per g , max.  104 
EAS 217  
 ii) Staphylococcus .aureus  cfu per g , max.  103 
iii) Escherichia . coli, per g  Absent  
iv) Salmonella  per 25 g  Absent  
7 Packaging 
7.1  Pearl millet grains shall be packed in suitable packages which shall be clean, sound, free from insect, 
fungal infestation and the pack aging material shall be food grade 
7.2  Pearl millet grains shall be packed in containers which will safeguard the hygienic, nutritional, and 
organoleptic qualities of the products. 
7.3 Each package shall contain pearl millet grains of the same type and of the same grade designation. 
7.4  If pearl millet grains are presented in bags, the bags shall also be free of pests and contaminants. 
7.5 Each package shall be securely closed and sealed. DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD 
6 © EAC  2013  – All rights reserved  
 8 Labelling 
8.1 In addition to the requirements in EAS 38, each package shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the 
following: 
a) product name as ― Whole Pearl Millet Grains ‖ or ―Decorticated Pearl Millet Grains ; 
b) variety; 
c) grade; 
d) name, address and physical location of the producer/ packer/importer; 
e) lot/batch/code number; 
f) net weight, in kilograms;  
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. 
g) the declaration ―Food for human consumption’’ ; 
h) storage instruction as ―Store  in a cool dry place away from any contaminants’’;  
i) crop year; 
j) packing date; 
k) instructions on disposal of used package; 
l) country of origin; and 
m) a declaration on whether the pearl millet was genetically modified or not. 
9 Sampling 
Sampling shall be done in accordance with the EAS 79/ISO 13690. 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARDFDEAS 284:2013    
 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved