CELEX: 31969R0768
Language: en
Date: 1969-04-22 00:00:00
Title: Regulation (EEC) No 768/69 of the Council of 22 April 1969 fixing standard qualities for common wheat, rye, barley, maize and durum wheat

Official Journal of the European Communities                                    205
No L 100/ 8                           Official Journal of the European Communities                                28.4.69
                                   REGULATION (EEC) No 768/69 OF THE COUNCIL
                                                     of 22 April 1969
                   fixing standard qualities for common wheat, rye, barley, maize and durum wheat
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                         (a) common wheat of a sound and fair marketable
                                                                      quality, free from abnormal smell and live pests,
Having regard :o the Treaty establishing the                          of a colour proper to this cereal and of a quality
European Economic Community, and in particular                        corresponding to the average quality of common
Article 43 thereof;                                                   wheat harvested under normal conditions in the
                                                                      Community;
Having regard to Council Regulation No
120/67/EEC1 of 13 June 1967 on the common
organization of the market in cereals, as last amended           (b) moisture content : 16% ;
by Council Regulation (EEC) No 289/692 of 17
February 1969, and in particular Article 2 (4)                   (c) total percentage of matter other than basic cereals
thereof;                                                              of unimpaired quality : 5% , of which :
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;                    — percentage of broken grains : 2% ;
Having regard to the Opinion of the European                          — percentage of grain impurities : 1-5% ('grain
Parliament3;                                                              impurities' means shrivelled grains, grains of
                                                                          other cereals, grains damaged by pests and
Whereas the common prices for common wheat, rye,                          grains showing discoloration of the germ) ;
barley, maize and durum wheat must be fixed with
reference to specific standard qualities ; whereas these              — percentage of sprouted grains : 1% ;
should correspond as far as possible to the average                   — percentage of miscellaneous impurities : 0-5%
qualities of those cereals harvested within the                           ('miscellaneous impurities' consist of weed
Community;                                                                seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter,
Whereas the standard qualities were fixed by Council                      husks, ergot, decayed grains, dead insects and
Regulation No 865/67/EEC4 of 14 November 1967;                            fragments of insects);
whereas the definirions contained in that Regulation
of matter other than basic cereals of unimpaired                 (d) specific weight : 75 kilogrammes per hectolitre.
quality have been difficult to apply; whereas they
should therefore be made more specific and,
                                                                                          Article 2
moreover, the methods of determining such matter
and the moisture content should be supplemented
and harmonised ;                                                 The standard quality for which the target price and
                                                                 the intervention prices for rye are fixed is defined as
                                                                 follows :
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                                                 (a) rye of a sound and fair marketable quality, free
                          Article 1                                   from abnormal smell and live pests, of a colour
                                                                    • proper to      this  cereal   and  of   a   quality
The standard quality for which the target price and                   corresponding to the average quality of rye
the intervention prices for common wheat are fixed is                 harvested    under   normal    conditions  in    the
defined as follows :
                                                                      Community;
1 OJ  No  117, 19.6.1967, p. 2269/67.                            (b) moisture content : 16% ;
2 OJ  No L 41 , 18.2.1969, p . 1 .
3 OJ  No  C 41 , 1.4.1S69, p. 35 .                               (c) total percentage of matter other than basic cereals
4 OJ  No 279, 18.11.1967, p. 2.                                       of unimpaired quality : 5% , of which :
 ---pagebreak--- 206                                   Official Journal of the European Communities
      — percentage of broken grains : 2% ;                            — percentage of broken grains : 2% ('broken
                                                                          grains' means pieces of grain or grains which
      — percentage of grain impurities : 1-5% ('grain                     pass through a sieve with a circular mesh 4-5
           impurities' means shrivelled grains, grains of                 millimetres in diameter);
           other cereals and grains damaged by pests);
                                                                      — percentage of grain impurities : 4% ('grain
      — percentage of sprouted grains : 1% ;                              impurities' means grains of other cereals,
      — percentage of miscellaneous impurities : 0-5%                     grains damaged by pests and grains of
           ('miscellaneous impurities' consist of weed                    abnormal coloration, the latter being grains
          ■seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter,                      which have acquired through heating a
           husks, ergot, dead insects and fragments of                    darkish brown colour on a fairly substantial
           insects) ;                                                     part of the tegument and of the kernel and
                                                                          are not damaged grains) ;
 (d) specific weight : 71 kilogrammes per hectolitre.                 — percentage of sprouted grains : 1% ;
                                                                      — percentage of miscellaneous impurities : 1%
                            Article 3                                     ('miscellaneous impurities' consist of weed
                                                                          seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter,
The standard quality for which the target price and                       husks, dead insects and fragments of insects).
the intervention prices for barley are fixed is defined
as follows :
                                                                                         Article 5
 ( a) barley of a sound and fair marketable quality,
                                                                 The standard quality for which the target price, the
      free from abnormal smell and live pests, of a
                                                                 intervention prices and the guaranteed minimum
      colour proper to this cereal and of a quality
      corresponding to the average quality of barley             price for durum wheat are fixed is defined as follows :
      harvested       under  normal   conditions   in  the
                                                                 ( a) durum wheat of a sound and fair marketable
      Community;
                                                                      quality, free from abnormal smell and live pests,
                                                                      dry, amber yellow to brown in colour, with a
(b) moisture content : 16% ;                                          vitreous section of translucent, horny appearance
                                                                      and of a quality corresponding to the average
(c) total percentage of matter other than basic cereals               quality of durum wheat harvested under , normal
      of unimpaired quality : 4% , of which :                         conditions in the Community;
      — percentage of grain impurities : 2% ('grain
                                                                 (b) total percentage of matter other than durum
           impurities' means shrivelled grains, grains of
           other cereals and grains damaged by pests );
                                                                      wheat grains of unimpaired quality: 24-5% , of
                                                                      which :
      — percentage of sprouted grains : 1% ;
                                                                      — percentage of durum wheat grains which have
      — percentage of miscellaneous impurities : 1%                       wholly or partly lost their vitreous aspect
           ('miscellaneous impurities' consist of weed                    (mitadine) and common wheat grains : 20% ,
           seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter,                      of which not more than 4% of common
           husks, dead insects and fragments of insects);                 wheat grains ;
                                                                      — percentage of broken grains : 2% ;
 (d) specific weight : 67 kilogrammes per hectolitre.
                                                                      — percentage of grain impurities : 1-5% ('grain
                                                                          impurities' means shrivelled grains, grains of
                            Article 4                                     cereals other than durum wheat and common
                                                                          wheat, grains damaged by pests, grains in
The standard quality for which the target price and                       which the germ is discoloured or mottled
the intervention price for maize are fixed is defined as                  grains);
follows :
                                                                      — percentage of sprouted grains : 0-5% ;
( a) maize of a sound and fair marketable quality, free               — percentage of miscellaneous impurities : 0-5%
      from abnormal smell and live pests ;                                ('miscellaneous impurities' consist of weed
                                                                          seeds, damaged grains, extraneous matter,
(b) moisture content : 15% ;                                              husks, ergot, decayed grains, dead insects and
                                                                          fragments of insects);.
(c) total percentage of matter other than basic cereals
      of unimpaired quality : 8% , of which :                    (c) specific weight : 78 kilogrammes per hectolitre.
 ---pagebreak---                                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                 207
                           Article 6                                  (c) the method for determining 'mitadine' durum
                                                                          wheat grains shall be determined according to
For the purpose of applying this Regulation :                             the procedure laid down in Article 26 of
                                                                          Regulation No 120/67/EEC.
(a) the matter other than basic cereals of unimpaired
     quality is defined in Annex I A, save as otherwise                                     Article 7
    defined in this Regulation, and is determined
     according to the method laid down in Annex I B ;                 Regulation No 865/67/EEC is hereby repealed.
(b) moisture content shall be determined by reference                 This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 August
     to the method shown in Annex II;                                 1969 .
              This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
              States .
              Done at Luxembourg, 22 April 1969.
                                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           The P" resident
                                                                                          J. P. BUCHLER
                                                            ANNEX I
              A. MATTER OTHER THAN BASIC CEREALS OF UNIMPAIRED QUALITY
                  1. Broken grains:
                     All grains of which the endosperm is partially uncovered shall be considered as broken
                     grams. Grains damaged by threshing and grains from which the germ has been removed
                     also belong to this group.
                     This definition does not apply to maize.
                  2. Grain impurities:
                       (a) Shrivelled grains:
                           Grains which, after elimination from the sample of all other matter referred to in
                           this Annex, pass through sieves with apertures of the following dimensions: common
                           wheat 2 millimetres, rye 1-8 millimetres, durum wheat 1-9 millimetres, barley 2-2
                           millimetres, shall be considered as shrivelled grains.
                           In addition, grains damaged by frost and unripe grains (green) belong to this group.
                      (b) Other cereals:
                           'Other cereals' means all grains which do not belong to the species of grain sampled.
                           In the case of a sample of durum wheat, all common wheat grains exceeding 4%
                           shall count as 'other cereals'.
                      (c) Grains damaged by pests:
                           Grains damaged by pests are those which have been nibbled. Bug-ridden grains also
                           oelong to this group.
 ---pagebreak--- 208                         Official Journal of the European Communities
         (d) Grains in which the germ is discoloured and mottle grains: .
               Grains in which the germ is discoloured are those of which the tegument is coloured
               brown to brownish black and of which the germ is normal and not sprouting. For
               common wheat, grains in which the germ is discoloured shall be disregarded up to 8% .
               For durum wheat, grains which show a brown to brownish black discoloration else­
               where than on the germ itself shall be considered as mottled grains.
    3 . Sprouted grains :
         Sprouted grains are those in which the radicle or plumule is clearly visible to the naked
         eye. However, account must be taken of the general appearance of the sample when its
         content of sprouted grains is assessed. In some kinds of cereals the germ is protuberant,
         e.g. in durum wheat, and the germ tegument splits when the batch of cereals is shaken.
         These grains resemble sprouted grains but must not be included in that group. Sprouted
         grains are only those where the germ has undergone clearly visible changes which make
         it easy to distinguish the sprouted grain from the normal grain.
    4. Miscellaneous impurities (Schwarzbesatz):
         (a) Weed Seeds
         (b) Damaged grains:
               Damaged grains are those rendered unfit for human consumption and, as regards
               feed grain, for consumption by cattle, owing to putrefaction, mildew, or bacterial
               or other causes .
                Grains which have deteriorated through spontaneous generation of heat also belong
               to this group ; these 'heated' or 'smutty' grains are fully grown grains in which the
               tegument is coloured greyish brown to black, while the cross-section of the kernel
               is coloured yellowish grey to brownish black.
               Grains attacked by wheat-midge shall be considered as damaged grains only when
               more than half the surface of the grain is coloured grey to black as a result of
               secondary cryptogamic attack. Where discoloration covers less then half the surface
               of the grain, the latter must be classed with grains damaged by pests.
          (c) Extraneous matter:
                All matter in a sample of cereals retained by a sieve with apertures of 3-5 millimetres
                (with the exception of grains of other cereals and particularly large grains of the
               basic cereal) and that passing through a sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre shall be
               considered as extraneous matter.
               Also included in this group are stones, sand, fragments of straw and other impurities
                in the samples which pass trough a sieve with apertures of 3-5 millimetres and are
                retained by a sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre.
               This definition does not apply to maize. For that cereal, all matter in a sample which
                passes through a sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre, as well as all the impurities
                mentioned in the preceding subparagraph, must be considered as extraneous matter.
          (d) Husks (for maize: cob fragments)
          (e) Ergot
           (f) Decayed grains
          (g) Dead insects and fragments of insects
     5 . Live pests :
 ---pagebreak---                          Official Journal of the European Communities                                  209
B. STANDARD METHOD FOR DETERMINING MATTER OTHER THAN BASIC
   CEREALS OF UNIMPAIRED QUALITY
   1 . For common wheat, durum wheat, rye, barley, an average sample of 250 grammes is
       passed through two sieves, one with apertures of 3-5 millimetres and the other with
       apertures of 1 millimetre, for half a minute each.
       In order to ensure constant sifting, it is advisable to use a mechanical sieve, e.g. a vibrat­
       ing table with fitted sieves.
       The matter retained by the sieve with apertures of 3-5 millimetres and that passing
       through the sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre must be weighed together and con­
       sidered as extraneous matter. Where the matter retained by the sieve with apertures of
       3-5 millimetres includes parts of the 'other cereals' group or particularly large grains of the
       basic cereal, those parts or grains shall be returned to the sifted sample. During sifting,
       in the sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre, a close check must be made for live pests.
       From the sifted sample, a sample of 50 to 100 grammes shall be taken using a separator.
       This partial sample must be weighed.
       Then this partial sample should be spread out on a table with tweezers or a horn spatula
       aid broken grains, other cereals, sprouted grains, grains damaged by pests, grains
       damaged by frost, grains in which the germ is discoloured, mottled grains, weed seeds,
       ergots, damaged grains, decayed grains, husks and live pests and dead insects must be
       extracted .
       Where the partial sample includes grains still in the husk, they shall be husked by
       hand, the husks so obtained being considered as pieces of husks. Stones, sand and frag­
       ments of straw shall be considered as extraneous matter.
       The partial sample shall be sifted for half a minute in a sieve with apertures of 2 milli­
       metres for common wheat, 1-8 millimetres for rye, 1-99 millimetres for durum wheat and
       2-2 millimetres for barley. Matter which passes through this sieve shall be considered as
       shrivelled grain. Grains damaged by frost and unripe green grains belong to the
       'shrivelled grains' group.
   2. For maize, an average sample of 500 grammes is shaken for half a minute in a sieve
       with apertures of 1 millimetre. Check for live pests and dead insects.
       Using tweezers or a horn spatula, extract from the matter retained by the sieve with
       apertures of 1 millimetre, stones, sand, fragments of straw and other extraneous matter.
       Add the extraneous matter thus extracted to the matter which has passed through the
       sieve with apertures of 1 millimetre and weigh them together.
       Using a separator, prepare a sample of 100 to 200 grammes from the sample passed
       through the sieve. Weigh this partial sample.
       Spread it out in a thin layer on a table. Using tweezers or a horn spatula, extract the
       pieces of other cereals, grain damaged by pests, grains damaged by frost, sprouted grains,
       weed seeds, damaged grains, husks, live pests and dead insects.
       Next, pass this partial sample through a sieve with a 4-5 millimetre round mesh. Matter
       which passes through this sieve shall be considered as broken grains.
   3. Groups of matter other than basic cereals of unimpaired quality, determined according
       to the methods referred to in 1 and 2, the percentages of which are laid down in Article 1
       to 5, must be weighed very carefully to the nearest 0-01 grammes and distributed ac­
       cording to percentage over the average sample. The particulars entered in the analyses
       report shall be to the nearest 0-1% . Check for live pests.
       As a general rule, two analyses must be made for each sample. They must not differ by
       more than 10% in respect of the total of the above-mentioned matter.
   4. The apparatus to be used for the operations referred to in 1, 2 and 3 is as follows :
        (a] sample separator, e.g. a conical or grooved apparatus,
        (b; precision or assay balance,
         (c sieves with apertures of 1 millimetre, 1-8 millimetres, 1-9 millimetres, 2 millimetres,
            2-2 millimetres, and 3-5 millimetres and a sieve with a 4-5 millimetre round mesh.
            The sieves may be fitted to a vibrating table.
 ---pagebreak--- 210                               Official Journal of the European Communities
                                                        ANNEX 11
                    STANDARD METHOD OF TESTING FOR MOISTURE CONTENT
    1 . Principle:
         The product is dried at a temperature of 130 to 133 °C, under normal atmospheric pressure,
         for a period of time fixed by rule of thumb according to the size of the particles.
    2. Field of application:
         This drying method applies to cereals crushed into particles of which at least 50% pass
         through a sieve with 0-5 millimetre mesh and leave not more than 10% residue on the sieve
         with a 1 millimetre round mesh. It also applies to flour.
    3 . Apparatus :
         Precision balance.
         Crusher made of a material which does not absorb moisture, is easy to clean, enables
         crushing to be effected quickly and evenly without overheating, limits contact with the out­
         side air to the minimum, and meets the requirements mentioned in 2 (e.g. a detachable
         roller mill).
         Receptacle made of non-corrodible metal or glass, fitted with a ground lid; working surface
         allowing distribution of the test sample at 0-3 grammes per sq . cm .
         Electrically heated isothermic heating-chamber, set at a temperature of 130 to 133 °C,1 having
         adequate ventilation2.
         Dryer with a metal or, failing metal, procelain plate, thick, perforated, containing silica gel
         impregnated with cobalt chloride or any other suitable dehydrator.
    4. Method:
         ( a) Drying:
              "Weigh at least 5 grammes of the crushed substance in the pre-weighed receptacle. Place
              the receptacle in a heating-chamber heated to 130 °C. To prevent too great a drop in
              temperature the receptacle must be introduced in as short a time as possible. Leave to
               dry for two hours after the heating-chamber regains a temperature of 130 °C. Remove
              the receptacle from the heating-chamber, quickly replace the lid, leave to cool for thirty
              to forty-five minutes in a dryer and weigh (weighing must be accurate to 1 milligramme).
         (b) Pre-drying:
              Grains with a moisture content higher than 17% must be pre-dried as follows :
              Weigh 50 grammes of unground grain in a suitable receptacle (e.g. a 20 X 12 centimetre
              aluminium plate with a 0-5 centimetre rim), leave to dry in a heating-chamber for seven
              to ten minutes at a temperature of 130 °C, remove from the heating-chamber, leave the
              grains uncovered to cool in the laboratory for two hours and weigh (weighing must be
              accurate to 10 milligrammes). Crush the partially dried grains and determine the
              remaining moisture content as described in (a).
    1 Air temperatures inside the heating-chamber.
    2 Its heating capacity should be such that, when it has been pre-set to 131 °C, that temperature can be regained
        in less than forty-five minutes after the maximum number of test samples have been placed in the chamber to
        dry simultaneously. Ventilation should be such that, when all test samples of common wheat it can hold are
        dried for two hours, the results differ by no more than 1-15% from the results obtained after drying for four
        hours.
 ---pagebreak---                         Official Journal of the European Communities                 211
5 . Method of calculation and formulae :
      E = the initial mass, in grammes, of the test sample;
     M = the mass, in grammes, of the test sample after preparation;
     M' = the mass, in grammes, of the test sample after crushing;
     m = the mass, in grammes, of the dry test sample.
    The moisture content as a percentage of the product is equal to :
                                                  100
    — without previous preparation (E — m) X
                                                   E
    — with previous preparation
    Tests to be made in duplicate at least.
6. Accuracy of test:
    The difference between two tests made on the same sample must not exceed ±01% of
    moisture.