Rua João Ribeiro, 422 - Santo André - SP - Brasil + 55 11 4991 2832 E-Mail gerente@peppertrade.com.br 

 

PEPPER  STANDARTS

BRAZIL      INDONESIA      INDIA       MALAYSIA        ASTA(Pepper and others)         ESA(Pepper and others)        IPC

 

BRAZILIAN QUALITY SPECIFICATION FOR PEPPER

Classification and Type

Moisture % wt, max

Ether extract % wt, min

Extraneous matter % wt, max

Light berries % wt, max

Mouldy berries % wt, max

Grey berries % wt, max

Black Pepper            
Brazil ASTA

14.0

6.75

1.0

2.0

1.0

-

Brazil 1

15.0

6.75

2.0

5.0

2.0

-

Brazil 2

16.0

6.75

5.0

25.0

2.0

-

White Pepper            
Brazil ASTA

14.5

6.5

0.5

1.0

1.0

5.0

Brazil 1

15.5

6.5

1.0

2.0

2.0

15.0

Brazil 2

16.0

6.5

3.0

4.0

2.0

60.0

 

BRAZIL      INDONESIA      INDIA       MALAYSIA        ASTA(Pepper and others)         ESA(Pepper and others)        IPC

INDONESIAN STANDARD FOR PEPPER
QUALITY REQUIREMENTS OF BLACK PEPPER

Black Pepper Grade I and Grade II

Characteristics

Grade I

Grade II

Cleanliness

Shall be free from living or dead insects and free from insect fragments

Shall be free from living or dead insects and free from insect fragments

Extraneous matter, % (w/w) max

1.0

1.0

Light berries, % (w/w) maximum

2.0

3.0

Mouldy berries, % (w/w) maximum

1.0

1.0

Moisture Content, % (w/w) maximum

12.0

13.5

Piperi Content, % (w/w)

mentioned as the test result

mentioned as the test result

Essential Oil Content, % (w/w)

mentioned as the test result

mentioned as the test result

     

Mixed Grade Black Pepper

Characteristics

Requirements

Moisture Content, % (w/w) maximum

12

Light Pepper Content, % (w/w) minimum

50

Ash Content, % (w/w dry basis) maximum

8

QUALITY REQUIREMENTS OF WHITE PEPPER
White Pepper Grade I and Grade II

Characteristics

Grade I

Grade II

Cleanliness Shall be free from living or dead insects and free from insect fragments Shall be free from living or dead insects and free from insect fragments
Colour Yellowish white Yellowish white, white grey or brownish white
Extraneous matter, % (w/w) max.

1.0

2.0

Light berries, % (w/w) max.

1.0

2.0

Mouldy berries, % (w/w) max.

1.0

1.0

Amount of black/dark grey berries in white pepper, % (w/w) max.

1.0

2.0

Moisture Content, % (w/w) max.

13.0

14.0

Piperi Content, % (w/w)

mentioned as the test result

mentioned as the test result

Essential Oil Content, % (w/w)

Mentioned as the test result

mentioned as the test result

     

Mixed Grade White Pepper

Characteristics

Requirements

Moisture Content, % (w/w) maximum

12

Light Pepper Content, % (w/w) minimum

10

Ash Content, % (w/w dry basis) maximum

6

 

 

BRAZIL      INDONESIA      INDIA       MALAYSIA        ASTA(Pepper and others)         ESA(Pepper and others)        IPC

AGMARK GRADE SPECIFICATIONS - INDIA

Grade Designations and Definitions of Quality of Malabar Black Pepper
Garbled Malabar Black Pepper

Grade

*Extraneous matter % wt, max

**Light berries % wt, max

Moisture content % wt, max

General Characteristics
MG Grade 1

0.5

 

2.0

 

11.0

Shall be the dried mature berries of Piper nigrum grown in South India, Garbled, dark brown to dark black in colour, nraly globular, with a wrinkled surface, the deepest wrinkles forming a network on the dried berry. It shall be free from mould or insect or any other adulterant.
MG Grade 2 0.5 5.0 11.0

* These comprise dust, chaff, pickings and other foreign matter. Pinheads will be regarded as an extraneous matter.

** Light berry-content to be tested by floation method in alcohol or methylated spirit of specific gravity 0.80 to 0.82 at room temperature (around 25o C).

Ungarbled Malabar Black Pepper

Grade

*Extraneous matter % wt, max

**Light berries % wt, max

@Moisture content % wt, max

General Characteristics
MUG Grade 1

2

7.0

12.0

Shall be dried mature berries of Piper nigrum grown in South India, colour varying from brown to black with a wrinkled surface. Shall be free from insect.
MUG Grade 2

2

10.0

12.0

MUG Grade 3 £

3

15.0

12.0

MUG Grade 4 £

4

20.0

12.0

* These comprise dust, chaff, pickings and other foreign matter including pinheads. Tolerance for mouldy pepper up to 2 per cent.

** Light berry-content to be tested by floation method in alcohol or methylated spirit of specific gravity 0.80 to 0.82 at room temperature (around 25o C).

@ During monsoon months i.e. from 15th May to 30th of September, a tolerance of 0.5 per cent is allowed in respect of moisture.

£ MUG Grade 3 and 4 are meant for export only

 

Garbled Light Black Pepper*

Grade designation

**Extraneous matter % wt, max

Pinheads % wt, max

General Characteristics
GL Grade Special £

2.0

£

Shall be dried berries of Piper nigrum grown in South India, dark brown to dark black in colour and garbled. They shall be well dried and free from mould or insects.
GL Grade 1 3.0

5.0

GL Grade 2 @ 5.0

10.0

GL Grade 3 @ 6.0

15.0

* Pepper in which 50% or more float when stirred in alcohol or methylated spirit of 0.80 to 0.82 specific gravity at room temperature (around 25o C)

** These comprise dust, chaff, pickings and other foreign matter.

£ In the case of GL Grade Special", the extraneous matter include pinheads also. No separate allowance will be admissible for pinheads.

@ GL Grade 2 and GL Grade 3 are meant for export only.

 

Unarbled Light Black Pepper*

Grade designation

**Extraneous matter % wt, max

Pinheads % wt, max

General Characteristics
UGL Grade Special

3

-

Shall be dried berries of piper nigrum grown in South India, dark brown to black in colour and ungarbled. They shall be dried and free from insects.
UGL Grade 1 4

5

UGL Grade 2 @ 7 10

  * Pepper in which 50% or more float when stirred in alcohol or methylated spirit of 0.80 to 0.82 specific gravity at room temperature (around 25o C)

** These comprise dust, chaff, pickings and other foreign matter.

@ GL Grade 2 and GL Grade 3 are meant for export only.

 

BRAZIL      INDONESIA      INDIA       MALAYSIA        ASTA(Pepper and others)         ESA(Pepper and others)        IPC

Malaysian Standard for Pepper

 

Specifications of Sarawak Black and White Pepper

A. Sarawak Black Pepper

 

Grade

 

Characteristic

Std Malaysian Black Pepper No.1 (Brown Label)

Sarawak Special Black (Yellow Label)

Sarawak FAQ Black (Black Label)

Sarawak Field Black (Purple Label)

Sarawak Coarse Field Black (Grey Label)

I. Moisture, per cent by weight, maximum

12.0

14.5

15.0

16.0

16.0

II. Light berries, per cent by weight, maximum

2.0

4.0

8.0

10.0

-

III. Extraneous matter, per cent by weight, maximum

1.0

1.5

3.0

4.0

8.0

 

B. Sarawak White Pepper

 

Grade

 

Characteristic

Std Malaysia White Pepper No.1 (Cream Label)

Sarawak Special White (Green Label)

Sarawak FAQ White (Blue Label)

Sarawak Field White (Orange Label)

Sarawak Coarse Field White (Grey Label)

I. Moisture, per cent by wight, maximum

12.0

15.0

16.0

16.0

16.0

II. Light berries, per cent by weight, maximum

0.2

0.5

1.0

1.5

-

III. Extraneous matter, per cent by weight, maximum

0.25

0.25

0.5

1.0

3.0

IV. Amount of black/dark grey berries in white pepper, per cent by weight, maximum

1.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

5.0

 

C. Sarawak Light Pepper

 

Grade

 

 

Characteristic

Sarawak Light Black Pepper (White Label) Sarawak Light White Pepper (White Label)

N.B.

I. Mousture, per cent by weight, maximum

16.0

16.0

Standard Malaysian White Pepper and Special White Pepper shall have a generally pale creamy or dull brownish ivory appearance and shall not contain a substantial amount of dark or brown or mainly brown berries, the determination of which shall be based on a standard sample.
II. Light berries, percent by weight, in excess of

50.0

10.0

The mouldy pepper in Standard Malaysian pepper shall not exceed 1% by weight
III. Extraneous matter, per cent by weight, maximum

4.0

2.0

For Light Pepper, pericarps and pin-heads shall not be considered as extraneous matter in grading

 

Specification for Sarawak Specialty Pepper

Sarawak Creamy White Pepper

Moisture

(%w/w, max)

14.5%

Light berries

(%w/w, max)

0%

Extraneous matter

(%w/w, max)

0%

Pericarp and dust of pepper origin

(%w/w, max)

0.01%

Black/Dark Grey berries

(%w/w, max)

0%

Berry-size

(mm, min)

4.0 mm

Colour  

Creaamy/Ivory white

 

Sarawak Naturally Clean Black Pepper

Moisture

(%w/w, max)

10.0%

Light berries

(%w/w, max)

2.0%

Extraneous matter

(%w/w, max)

1.0%

Live insects

(count; 50g, max)

0

Excreta

(mg/200g, max)

0

     
Microbiological Level    
a) Total viable count

(count/g, max)

104

b) E Coli

(MPN/g, max)

101

c) Salmonella

(count/25g)

Nil

d) Mould & Yeast

(count/g, max)

102

Note: Microbiological specifications are based on Standard International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF)

Sarawak Extra Bold Black Pepper

Moisture

(%w/w, max)

12.0%

Light berries

(%w/w, max)

2.0%

Extraneous matter

(%w/w, max)

1.0%

Mouldy Berries

(%w/w, max)

1.0%

Berry-size

(mm, min)

4.5 mm

 

 

BRAZIL      INDONESIA      INDIA       MALAYSIA        ASTA(Pepper and others)         ESA(Pepper and others)        IPC

ASTA’s Cleanliness specifications
For Spices, Seeds and Herbs

(Effective April 28, 1999)

For purpose of these Specifications, extraneous matter is defined as everything foreign to the product itself and included, but is not restricted to: stones, dirt, wire, string, stems, sticks, nontoxic foreign seeds, excreta, manure and animal contamination.

The level of contaminants permitted under these Specifications must fall below those shown on the following table, except for the column "Whole Insects, Dead" which cannot exceed the limits shown.

 

 Whole insects dead

Excreta Mammalian

Excreta other

Mold

Insect defiled/ infested

Extraneous foreign matter

Name of spice, seed or herb

By count

By mg./lb

By mg./lb

% by Wgt.

% by wgt.

% by wgt.

All spice

2

5

5.0

2.00

1.00

0.50

Anise

4

3

5.0

1.00

1.00

1.00

Sweet Basil

2

1

2.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Caraway

4

3

10.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Cardamom

4

3

1.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Cassia

2

1

1.0

5.00

2.50

0.50

Cinnamon

2

1

2.0

1.00

1.0

0.50

Celery Seed

4

3

3.0

1.00

1.0

0.50

Chillies

4

1

8.0

3.00

2.50

0.50

Cloves

4

5

8.0

1.00

1.00

1.00 *

Coriander

4

3

10.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Cumin Seed

4

3

5.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Dill Seed

4

3

2.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Fennel Seed

SF(2)

SF(2)

SF(2)

1.00

1.00

0.50

Ginger

4

3

3.0

SF(3)

SF(3)

1.00

Laurel Leaves **

2

1

10.0

2.00

2.50

0.50

Mace

4

3

1.0

2.00

1.00

0.50

Marjoram

3

1

10.0

1.00

1.00

1.00n

Nutmeg (Broken)

4

5

1.0

SF(4)

SF(4)

0.50

Nutmeg (Whole)

4

0

0.0

SF(5)

SF(5)

0.00

Oregano ***

3

1

10.0

1.00

1.00

1.00n

Black Pepper

2

1

5.0

SF(6)

SF(6)

1.00

White Pepper ****

2

1

1.0

SF(7)

SF(7)

0.50

Poppy Seed

2

3

3.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Rosemary Leaves

2

1

4.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Sage **

2

1

4.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Savory

2

1

10.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Sesame Seed

4

5

10.0

1.00

1.00

0.50

Sesame Seed, Hulled

4

5

1.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Tarragon

2

1

1.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Thyme

4

1

5.0

1.00

1.00

0.50n

Turmeric

3

5

5.0

3.00

2.50

0.50


Cleanliness Specifications Footnotes:

*

Clove stems:

Less than (<) 5% allowance by weight for unattached clove stems over and above the tolerance for other Extraneous Matter is permitted

**

Laurel leaves: Sage:

"Stems" will be reported separately for economic purposes and will not represent a Pass/fail criteria

***

Oregano:

Analysis for presence of Sumac shall not be mandatory, if samples are marked "Product of Mexico"

****

White pepper:

"Percent Black Pepper" will be reported separately for economic purposes and will not represent a pass/fail criteria

(2)

Fennel Seed:

In the case of fennel seed, if more than 20% of the sub samples contain any rodent, other excreta or whole insects, or an average of 3 mg/lb. of mammalian excreta, the lot must be reconditioned

(3)

Ginger More than 3% moldy pieces and/or insect infested pieces by weight

(4)

Broken Nutmeg: More than 5% mold/insect defiled combined by weight

(5)

Whole Nutmeg More than 10% insect infested and/or moldy pieces, with a maximum of 5% insect defiled pieces by count

(6)

Black Pepper 1% moldy and/or infested pieces by weight

(7)

White Pepper 1% moldy and/or infested pieces by weight

u

Whole Insects, Dead: Cannot exceed the limits shown

n

Extraneous Matter Include other plant material, e.g. foreign leaves

 

Ground Processed Spice *
(Cannot exceed limit shown)

 

Spices

Whole Equivalent Insects

Insect Fragments

 

Mites

Other Insects

Rats/Mouse Hairs

 

Animal Hairs

Ground Paprika   Avg. of more than 75 fragments/ 25g     Avg. of more than 75 fragments/ 25g  

* Microanalytical Methods for Paprika and Ground Capsicums can be found in the "Analytical Procedures" section of the ASTA Cleanliness Specifications for Spices, Seeds, and Herbs Manual (4/28/99)


IN ADDITION TO THE PRECEDING SPECIFICATIONS, A LOT MUST ALSO BE RECONDITIONED:

  1. MAMALIAN EXCRETA

    If the average of the total number of sub-samples exceeds the listed milligram per pound Specifications.
    Exception: In the case of fennel seed, see footnote (2)

  2. OTHER EXCRETA

    If the average weight expressed as milligrams per pound for all subdivisions of the sample exceeds the specified values shown in the table.Exception: In the case of fennel seed, see footnote (2)

    NOTE: