FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS EAS 284
First Edition
2011-mm-dd
 
 Reference numbe r
FDUS EAS 284: 2011
© UNBS 2011
  
Pearl millet grains — Specification 
 FDUS EAS 284: 2011 
i i                 ©  U N B S  2011 - 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 2011 
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, in cluding 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  
 FDUS EAS 284: 2011 
© UNBS  2011 - All rights rese rved                iii National foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of U ganda. 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 A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements 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 gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee 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 284:2011 , Pearl millet grains — Specification,  is identical with  
and has been reproduced  from an East African Standard, EAS 284:2011 , Pearl millet grains — Specification,  
and is being proposed for adoption as a Uganda Standard.  
This standard was developed by the Food and agricu lture Standards Technical Committee (UNBS/TC 2).  
Wherever the words, “East African Standard" appea r, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard." 
 
  EAS 284:2011
ICS 67.060
 
  
 
© EAC 2011 Second Edition 2011  
       
EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
 
Pearl millet grains — Specification  
 
 
 
      
 
                      
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
HS 1008.20.00 [HS 1008.20.29]  EAS 284:2011  
 
 
Foreword 
 
Development of the East African Standards ha s been necessitated by the need for harmonizing 
requirements governing quality of products and services in East Africa. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers which are encountered when goods and services are 
exchanged within the Comm unity will be removed.  
 In order to meet the above objectives, the EAC Partner States have enacted an East African 
Standardization, Quality Assurance, Metrology an d Test Act, 2006 (EAC SQMT Act, 2006) to make 
provisions for ensuring standardization, quality as surance, metrology and testing of products 
produced or originating in a third country and traded in the Community in order to facilitate industrial 
development and trade as well as helping to protect the health and safety of society and the 
environment in the Community. 
 
East African Standards are formulat ed in accordance with the proc edures established by the East 
African Standards Committee. The East Afri can Standards Committee is established under the 
provisions of Article 4 of the EAC SQMT Act, 2006. The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, t ogether with the representatives from the private 
sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East African Standards are circ ulated to stakeholders 
through the National Standards Bodies in the Pa rtner States. The comments received are discussed 
and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures of the 
Community.   Article 15(1) of the EAC SQMT Act, 2006 provides t hat “Within six months of the declaration of an 
East African Standard, the Partner States shall adopt, without deviation from the approved text of the 
standard, the East African Standard as a nationa l standard and withdraw any existing national 
standard with similar scope and purpose”. 
 
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.   
© East African Community 2011 — 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.each.int 
                                                 
* © 2011 EAC — All rights of exploitation in any form and by an y means reserved worldwide for EAC Partner States’ NSBs.  
 
ii © EAC 2011 — All rights reserved EAS 284:2011  
 
Introduction 
 
 
This standard has been developed to take into account:  
⎯ the needs of the market for the product;  
 
⎯ 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. 
 ⎯ the structure of the CODEX, UNECE, USA, ISO and other internat ionally significant standards; 
 
⎯ the needs of the producers in gaining knowle dge of market standards, conformity assessment, 
commercial cultivars and crop production process; 
 
⎯ the need to transport the product in a manner that  ensures keeping of quality until it reaches the 
consumer; 
 ⎯ the need for the plant protection authority to certif y, through a simplified form, that the product is 
fit for cross-border and international trade without carrying plant disease vectors; 
 ⎯ the need to promote good agricultural practi ces that will enhance wider market access, 
involvement of small-scale traders and hence making farming a viable means of wealth creation. 
© EAC 2011 — All rights reserved iii EAS 284:2011  
iv © EAC 2011 — All rights reserved  
Contents 
 
1 Scope  ................................................................................................................................ 1  
2 Normative references ........................................................................................................ 1  
3 Terms and Definitions  ...................................................................................................... 2  
4 Quality requirements  ........................................................................................................ 3  
4.1 General quality requirements ..................................................................................... 3  
4.2 Specific requirements ................................................................................................. 3  
4.2.1 Graded pearl millet  ....................................................................................................... 3  
4.2.2 Ungraded pearl millet  ................................................................................................ 3  
4.2.3 Reject grade pearl millet  ............................................................................................ 3  
5 Contaminants  .................................................................................................................... 4  
5.1 Heavy metals  .............................................................................................................. 4  
5.2 Pesticide residues  ....................................................................................................... 4  
5.3 Mycotoxin  limits  ....................................................................................................... 5  
6 Hygiene  ............................................................................................................................ 5  
7 Packaging  ......................................................................................................................... 5  
8 Marking or labelling  ......................................................................................................... 5  
9 Sampling  ........................................................................................................................... 6  
 EAS 284:2011  EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
 
Pearl millet grains — Specification  
 
1 Scope 
 
This 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 normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text constitute 
provisions of this East African Standard  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 — Determinati on of moisture content — Routine reference 
method 
 
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  
 
ISO 6639-3, Cereals and pulses — Determination of hidden insect infestation — Part 3: Reference 
method  
 
ISO 6639-4, Cereals and pulses — Determination of hi dden insect infestation — Part 4: Rapid 
methods  
 
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 
 EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification  
 
EAS 79, Cereals and pulses as grain — Methods of sampling  
 
EAS 217, Methods for the microbiological examination of foods  
 
EAS 39, Code of Hygiene Practice in Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry 
 
CODEX Stan 193, Codex general Standards for contaminants and toxins in Food and Feed 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
© EAC 2011 — All rights reserved  1 EAS 284:2011  
3 Terms and Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this East African Stan dard, the following definitions shall apply. 
 
3.1 
pearl millet grain 
the whole or decorticated  grain  of the species Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. 
 
 
3.2 whole grains 
grains of pearl millet obtained after proper threshing 
 
3.3 
decorticated grains 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 
 all 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 
any edible grains (including oil seeds) ot her than the one which is under consideration  
 
3.6 
damaged grains grains that are broken, sprouted or  damaged as a result of heat, microbe, moisture or weather 
 
3.7 
immature and shriveled grains 
grains that are not properly developed 
 
3.8 
weevilled grains 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 
any seed which if present in quantities above pe rmissible limit may have damaging or dangerous 
effect on health, organoleptic properties or te chnological 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 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
2 © EAC 2011 — All rights reserved EAS 284:2011  
4 Quality requirements 
 
4.1 General requirements 
 
4.1.1 Pearl millet shall meet the following general requirements/limits as determined using the 
relevant standards listed in Clause 2: 
 
 a) shall be the dried mature grains of Pennisetum (glaucum) americanum Linn;  
 b) shall be hard, clean, wholesome, uniform in  size, colour and in sound merchantable condition; 
 
c) shall be safe and suitable for human consumption; 
 
d) shall be free from abnormal flavours,  obnoxious smell and discolouration.  
 
e) shall be free from micro-organisms and substanc es originating from micro-organisms or other 
poisonous or deleterious substances in amounts that may constitute a hazard to human health. 
 4.1.2 Pearl millet grains shall be in form of well-filled seeds of uniform colour. 
 
4.2 Specific requirements 
 4.2.1 Graded pearl millet   
 
Pearl millet shall be graded into three grades on the basis of the tolerable limits established in Table 1 
which shall be additional to the general requirements set out in this standard. 
 
4.2.2 Ungraded pearl millet 
 
Shall be pearl millet which do not fall within the requ irements of Grades 1, 2, and 3 of this standard 
but are not rejected pearl millet.   
Note: For Tanzania and Burundi this requirement shall not apply.  
 
4.2.3 Reject grade pearl millet  
 
This comprises pearl millet grains which have obj ectionable odour, off flavour, living insects or which 
do not possess the quality characterist ics specified in Table 1. They ca nnot satisfy the conditions of 
ungraded pearl millet grains and shall be graded as reject pearl millet grains and shall be regarded as 
unfit for human consumption. 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
© EAC 2011 — All rights reserved  3 EAS 284:2011  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for pearl millet grains 
 
Characteristic Grade Method of test 
1 2 3 
Foreign matter, whole grains, 
% by mass, max. Organic 0.25 0.50 0.75  
ISO 605 Inorganic 0.10 0.25 0.25 
Foreign matter, decorticated, % by mass, max.   0.5  
Other edible grains, % by mass, max. 2.0 2.5 3.0 
Damaged grain, % by mass, max.   1.0 2.0 4.0 
Immature and shrivelled, % by mass, max.  3.0 5.0 8.0 
Weevilled grains per cent by count 2.5 4.0 6.0 
Moisture content 12.0 13.0 13 ISO 711/712 
Crude protein, % by dry mass basis, min 8.0 EAS 82 
Ergot affected grains %m/m 0.05 EAS 82 
Fat content, % by dry mass basis      
 whole millet grains 3.5 to 6.0 ISO 5986:1983 
 decorticated millet grains 2.0 to 4.0 ISO 5986:1983 
Total ash (decorticated) % by dry mass, max 1.0 EAS 82 
Tannin content, % by mass, max.   0.5   ISO 9648 
1000 Kernel weight, g      
 Whole millet grains 5.0 to 10.0 Undefined 
 Decorticated millet grains  4.0 to 8.0 Undefined 
1 litre weight, g 750 to 820 Undefined 
Decortication %m/m max 20 Undefined 
Crude fibre, % by dry mass basis:   
 whole millet grains 3.0 to 4.5 ISO 5498 
  decorticated millet grains %m/m max 2.0 
Total Aflatoxin (AFB1+AFB2+AFG1 +AFG2)), ppb max 10 ISO 16050 
 
Aflatoxin B1 only, ppb max 5 
Fumonisin ppm max 2 
NOTE Foreign matter is mineral or organic matter (dust, twigs, seed coats, seeds of other species, dead insects, 
fragments, or remains of insects, other impurities of animal origin). Pearl mille t 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% shall be dead insects, 
fragments or remains of insects, and/ or other impurities of animal origin. 
 
5 Contaminants 
 
5.1 Heavy metals 
 
Pearl millet grains shall comply with those maximum limits for heavy metals established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.  
  
5.2 Pesticide residues 
 Pearl millet grains shall comply with those maxi mum pesticide residue limits established by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.  
 
4 © EAC 2011 — All rights reserved EAS 284:2011  
Note: where the use of certain pesticides is prohibited by some Partner States, then it shall be notified to 
all Partner States accordingly. 
 
5.3 Mycotoxin  limits 
 
Pearl millet grains shall comply with those ma ximum mycotoxin limits es tablished by  the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission for this commodity. In particular, t otal aflatoxin levels in pearl millet 
grains for human consumption shal l not exceed 10 µg/kg (ppb) with B 1  not exceeding 5 
µg/kg (ppb) when tested according to ISO 16050.  
 
6 Hygiene 
 6.1 Pearl millet shall be produced, prepared and handl ed in accordance with the provisions of 
appropriate sections of EAS 39   6.2 When tested by appropriate standards of samp ling and examination listed in Clause 2, the 
products:  
⎯ shall be free from microorganisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health and shall 
not exceed the limits stipulated in Table 2; 
 ⎯ shall be free from parasites which may represent a hazard to health; and 
 
⎯ shall not contain any substance originating from  microorganisms in amounts which may represent 
a hazard to health. 
 
Table 2 — Microbiological limits  
 
 Type of micro-organism Limits Test method 
i)  Yeasts and moulds, max. per g 104  
 
EAS 217 
  ii) S.aureus  per 25 g Not 
detectable
iii) E. Coli , max. per g Not 
detectable
iv) Salmonella, max. per 25 g  Not 
detectable
 
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 packing material shall be of food grade quality 
 7.2   Pearl millet grains shall be packed in cont ainers which will safeguard the hygienic, nutritional, 
and organoleptic qualities of the products.  7.3  The containers, including packaging material, shall be made of substances which are safe 
and suitable for their intended use. They shall not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or 
flavor to the product.  
7.4   Each package shall contain pearl millet grains of the same type and of the same grade 
designation. 
 
7.5   If pearl millet grains are presented in bags, the bags shall also be free of pests and 
contaminants. 
 
7.6 Each package shall be securely closed and sealed. 
 
8 Marking or labelling 
© EAC 2011 — All rights reserved  5 EAS 284:2011  
 
8.1 In addition to the requirements in EAS 38, each  package shall be legibl y and indelibly marked 
with the following: 
 
i) product name as “Whole Pearl Millet Grains” or “Decorticated Pearl Millet Grains; 
 ii) variety;  
iii) grade; 
 iv) name, address and physical locati on of the producer/ packer/importer; 
 
v) lot/batch/code number; 
 
vi) net weight, in kg;   
Note: EAC partner states are signatory to the International Labour Organizations (ILO) for maximum package weight of 50kg 
where human loading and offloading is involved. 
 vii) the declaration “Food for Human Consumption’’; 
 
viii) storage instruction as “Store in a c ool dry place away from any contaminants’’; 
 
ix) crop year; 
 x) packing date; 
 
xi) instructions on disposal of used package; 
 
xii) country of origin; 
 xiii) a declaration on whether the pearl m illet was genetically modified or not. 
 
9 Sampling 
 
Sampling shall be done in accordan ce with the EAS 79/ISO 13690. 
6 © EAC 2011 — All rights reserved EAS 284:2011  
© EAC 2011 — All rights reserved  7