PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS DEAS 128 
Third Edition  
2016-mm- dd 
 
 Reference number  
DUS DEAS 128: 2016 
© UNBS 201 6 
  
Milled rice  — Specification  
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 128:2016 
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 nece ssary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 20 16 
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  
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Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 7 333 2 50/1/2/3  
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 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DEAS 128:2016 
© UNBS  2016 - All rights reserved                 iii National foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives esta blished 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 Commiss ion 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 standar ds 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 
gener al 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 128: 2016, Milled rice  — Specification , is identical with  and has been 
reproduced from a  Draft East African  Standard , DEAS 128: 2016, Milled rice  — Specification , and is being 
proposed for adoption  as a Uganda Standard.  
This standard was de veloped by the Food and agriculture  Standards Technical Committee (UNBS/TC 2). 
Wherever the words, “ East African  Standard" appear, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard."  
 
  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT DEAS 12 8:2016 
ICS 67.060  
© EAS 2015                                                                                                                         Third Edition 2016  
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
Milled rice — Specification 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 128:2015 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  ii 
 Copyright notice 
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participants in the EAC standards development process is permitted without prior permission from EAC, 
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© East African Community 2015 — All rights reserved 
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 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 128:2015 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  iii 
 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 128:2015 was prepared by Technical Committee EAS/TC 014, Cereals, Pulses and related products  
This Third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (EAS 128:2013) which has been technically 
revised. 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 128:2016  
 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  1 
 Milled rice — Specification 
1 Scope 
This Draft East African Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for milled rice 
of the varieties grown from Oryza spp . 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 — Requirements 
EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry — Code of practice   
EAS 764 , Rough (paddy) rice — Specification  
EAS 765 , Brown rice — Specification 
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 6579, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection of Salmonella 
spp. 
ISO 6888- 1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 1: Technique using 
Baird-Parker agar medium 
ISO 7251, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection and 
enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli — Most probable number technique 
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 21527, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of yeasts 
and moulds — Part 2: Colony count technique in products with water activity less than or equal to 0.95 
ISO 24333, Cereals and cereal products – Sampling 
- CODEX STAN 193, Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed 
- ISO 5223, Test sieves for cereals 
- ISO 6639-1, Cereals and pulses — Determination of hidden insect infestation — Part 1: General 
Principles 
- ISO 6639-2, Cereals and pulses — Determination of hidden insect infestation — Part 2: Sampling 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  2 
 3 Terms and definitions  
For the purpose of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply. 
3.1 
milled rice 
whole or broken kernels of rice(oryza spp) from which the germ, embryo or at least the outer  bran layer have 
been removed. 
3.2  
bran 
by product from milling consisting of the outer (pericarp) layers of the kernel with part of the germ 
3.3 
broken kernels  
pieces of rice that are less than three-quarters of a whole kernel and includes grains of rice in which part of 
the endosperm is exposed or rice without a germ. If the piece is more than three-quarters of a kernel, it is 
considered whole. 
3.4 
chalky kernels 
head rice or broken kernel, except wax rice, whose whole surface has an opaque and floury appearance 
3.5 
damaged /defective  
pest damaged, discoloured, stained, diseased, frost damaged, immature and shrivelled grains and broken 
grains 
3.6 
foreign matter 
all organic and inorganic material(such as sand, soil, glass)other than rice, broken kernels and other grains 
3.7 
filth  
impurities of animal origin     
3.8 
glutinous milled rice 
special varieties of rice ( Oryza sativa  L. glutinosa ) which contain more than 50 % chalky kernels and have a 
white and opaque appearance containing high amounts of amylopectin 
3.9 
head rice 
whole kernel or part of the kernel with a length greater than or equal to 75 % of the average length of the test 
sample kernels (see Figure 1) 
3.10 
immature   
unripe and/or undeveloped whole or broken kernel 
3.11 
pest damaged  
grains which show damage  owing to attack by rodents, insects, mites or other pests 
3.12 
large broken kernel 
part of kernel with a length less than three-quarters but greater than one half of the average length of the test 
sample kernels 
 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  3 
 
 
Key 
a Not passing through a round perforation of 1.4 mm in diameter 
L is the average length 
Figure 1 — Size of kernels, broken kernels and chips  
3.13 
medium broken kernel 
part of kernel with a length less than or equal to one half but greater than one quarter of the average length of 
the test sample kernels (Figure 1) 
3.14 
paddy kernels 
whole or broken unhulled kernels of rice;.  
3.15 
noxious, toxic and/or harmful seeds 
seeds  which can have a damaging or dangerous effect on health, sensory properties or technological 
performance 
3.16 
red 
head rice or broken kernel having a red bran covering more than 25 % of its surface 
3.17 
red-streaked kernel 
head rice or broken kernel with red bran streaks of length  greater than or equal to 50 % of that whole kernel, 
but where the surface covered by these red streaks is less than 25 % of the total surface 
3.18 
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 
3.19 
inorganic foreign matter 
stones, glass, pieces of soil and other mineral matter PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  4 
 3.20 
organic foreign matter 
plant matter (husk, straws, weeds) other than kernels of rice, damaged rice kernels, other edible grains, and 
harmful/toxic seeds 
3.21 
filth 
impurities of animal origin (including dead insects) 
3.22 
other  contrasting varieties 
Whole or broken kernels of rice with distinct grain characteristics in size, shape and aroma from the 
designated variety 
 
4.1 Classification 
If rice is classified as long grain, medium grain or short grain, the classification shall be in accordance with one 
of the following specifications:  
a) Option 1 (Kernel length/width ratio):  
i) Long grain rice: 
• rice with a length/width ratio of 3.1 or more; and  
• Milled rice or with a length/width ratio of 3.0 or more;  
ii) Medium grain rice:  
• with a length/width ratio of 2.1 –3.0; and  
• Milled rice with a length/width ratio of 2.0 –2.9;  
iii) Short grain rice:  
• rice with a length/width ratio of 2.0 or less; and  
• Milled rice with a length/width ratio of 1.9 or less; 
b) Option 2 (Kernel length):  
i) Long grain rice has a kernel length of 6.6 mm or more;  
ii) Medium grain rice has a kernel length of 6.2 mm or more but less than 6.6 mm; and  
iii) Short grain rice has a kernel length of less than 6.2 mm;  
c) Option 3 (Combination of the kernel length and the length/width ratio): 
i) Long grain rice has either:  
• kernel length of more than 6.0 mm and with a length/width ratio of more than 2 but less than 3, or;  
• kernel length of more than 6.0 mm and with a length/width ratio of 3 or more;  
ii) Medium grain rice has a kernel length of more than 5.2 mm but not more than 6.0 mm and a 
length/width ratio of less than 3; and  
iii) Short grain rice has a kernel length of 5.2 mm or less and a length/width ratio of less than 2. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  5 
 NOTE: Traders should indicate which classification option is chosen. 
  
4.2 Quality requirements  
4.3 General requirements 
4.3.1  Milled rice shall be obtained from rough or brown rice complying to EAS 764 or EAS 765 respectively. 
4.3.2  Milled rice shall be: 
a) the dried mature grains of edible Oryza spp ; 
b) clean, wholesome, uniform in size, colour and shape; 
c) safe and suitable for human consumption; 
d) free from abnormal flavours, musty, sour or other undesirable odour, obnoxious smell and 
discolouration; and 
e) practically free from micro-organisms and substances originating from micro-organisms, fungi or other 
poisonous or deleterious substances in amounts that may constitute a hazard to human health. 
f) free from live weevils 
 4.4 Specific requirements 
Milled rice grains for human consumption may be graded into three grades and shall be  on the basis of the 
tolerable limits established in Table 1.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements  
S/N 
Characteristics  Maximum limits   test method  
 Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  
i) 
Broken, %  5(15)KE  
 
(10)UG  
(5)RW  15(25  
 
(25) 
(15) 25(35)  
 
(50) 
(25) 
 
ISO 605(check 
the method)  
ISO 7301  ii)     
iii) Damaged rice, %  1.5 2 3.0 
iv) Chalky and immature grains 
% 2 4 10 
v) Red or red streaked, %  2 6 12 
     
vii) Other contrasting varieties, 
% 1 2 3 
 Foreign matter     
viii)     
ix)   
x) Paddy grains, %  0.3 
   PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  6 
 xii) Filth, %  0.1 
xiii) Moisture content, %  14 
 ISO 711/IS O 712  
 
 
5 Contaminants 
5.1 Pesticide residues 
Milled rice 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 
5.2.1 Milled rice shall comply with those maximum limits for heavy metals established by the codex 
alimentarius commission for this commodity.  
5.2.2 Milled rice shall comply with the limits for mycotoxins stated in table 2 below. 
Table 2 Mycotoxin limits for milled rice 
S/N Mycotoxin  Limit  Methods of test  
i)  Total Aflatoxin (AFB 1+AFB 2+AFG 1 +AFG 2)), µg/kg, max.  10 ISO16050  
ii)  Aflatoxin B 1, µg/kg, max.  5 
iii)  Fumonisin mg/kg, max.  
 2 AOAC 2001.04  
6 Hygiene 
6.1 Milled rice 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 4; 
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. 
7 Packaging 
7.1 Milled rice shall be packed in food grade containers which will safeguard the hygienic, nutritional,  and 
organoleptic qualities of the products. 
7.2 Each package shall be securely closed and sealed. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved  7 
 8 Weights and measures 
Milled rice shall be package in accordance with the weights and measures regulations in 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 Labelling 
 In addition to the requirements in EAS 38, each package shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the 
following: 
a) product name as “Milled rice”;  
b) classes; 
i) Long grain milled rice 
ii) Medium grain milled rice 
iii) Short grain milled rice 
c)  iv)Mixed milled rice grade; 
d) name, address and physical location of the manufacturer/ 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 milled rice was genetically modified or not. 
10 Sampling methods 
Sampling shall be done in accordance with the ISO 24333.PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDEAS 128:2015    
 
© EAC 2015 – All rights reserved