National Grains Standards for Rice and Corn

March 13, 2013

NFA LETTER-CIRCULAR NO. AO-2013-04-003

 

Pursuant to the powers granted to the National Food Authority (NFA) under Section 6 (a) subpar viii of P.D. 4, as amended, and the pertinent provisions of the Rules and Regulations on Grains Business, and to protect the public interest and promote the general welfare as mandated by Republic Act 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the LETTER-CIRCULAR No. AO-97-08-001 dated July 23, 1997, titled "National Grains Standards for Rice and Corn", is hereby reiterated. This is also in pursuant to the Covenant signed during the Multi-Sectoral Groups of the Rice Industry dialogue on February 22, 2013. CHDAaS

For your information, the salient features in the Circular are as follows:

Commodity Standard Specifications

A. General Requirements

1. The moisture content of a given rice and corn commodity shall not exceed 14% on "as received" basis.

2. The commodity shall be free from objectionable and foreign odors, live insect pests and other contaminants.

3. The commodity shall not contain chemical residues in excess of the maximum limits recommended by the joint FAO-WHO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION.

4. In the case of shelled corn and corngrits, aflatoxin content shall not exceed the maximum level recommended by the FAO-WHO-CONDEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION which is 20 ppb for human food and 50 ppb for animal feeds. Appropriate procedures must be observed in the final disposition of rejected shelled corn and corngrits.

B. Standard Specifications for Palay

1. Classification

 Palay shall be classified into types on the basis of the size of brown rice grain as follows:

1.1. Very Long Grain

1.2. Long Grain

1.3. Medium Grain

1.4. Short Grain

2. Palay Variety

 This refers to the category/species of palay denoting its genetic characteristics whether it is traditional variety (i.e.,Intan, Raminad, etc.) or modern variety which is a result of genetic improvement or interbreeding of different varieties (i.e.,C-4, IR Series, BPI Series, PSB Series, etc.). DTIaCS

 Special variety palay shall be graded and designated according to the grade requirements of the standard and shall be identified under a specific variety such as Dinorado, Sigadis, Milagrosa, Sampaguita, Sinandomeng, Kalinayan, Baysilanon, and other varieties certified by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC).

3. Grading

 Palay shall conform with the grade requirements specified in the following:

Grade	(% by Weight) Purity,	(% by Weight) Foreign
	Min.	Matter, Max
Premium	98	2
Grade No. 1	95	5
Grade No. 2	90	10
Grade No. 3	85	15

 

C. Standard Specifications for Milled Rice

1. Classification

 Milled rice shall be classified into types based on the size of the whole grain and the degree of milling as follows:

1.1. Size

1.1.1. Very Long Grain

1.1.2. Long Grain

1.1.3. Medium Grain

1.1.4. Short Grain

1.2. Degree of Milling

1.2.1. Overmilled Rice

1.2.2. Well milled rice

1.2.3. Regular Milled

1.2.4. Undermilled Rice aSIAHC

2. Rice Variety

 This refers to the category/species of palay from which processed or milled rice was derived denoting its genetic characteristics whether it is traditional variety not belonging to special variety rice or a result of genetic improvement/hybridization.

 Traditional variety shall include all other indigenous or native varieties not included in the listing of special palay or rice. (i.e.,Intan Raminad).

 Modern variety shall include genetically improved palay varieties exemplified by the IR-series, BPI series, PSB series and their common names.

 Special rice includes glutinous, aromatic rice and those with excellent eating and nutritive quality.

3. Grading

 Milled rice shall conform with the grade requirements specified in the following:

Grade	(% by Weight) Head	(% by Weight)
	Rice, Min.	Brokers Including
		Brewers, Max.
Premium	95	5
Grade No. 1	90	10
Grade No. 2	85	15
Grade No. 3	75	25
Grade No. 4	65	35
Grade No. 5	55	45

D. Standard Specifications for Shelled Corn

Shelled Corn — corn kernels, mainly of either dent or flint varieties of the plant Zea mays. It is also known as maize or "corn grain". HCITcA

1. Type

1.1. White

1.2. Yellow Corn

1.3. Mixed Corn

2. Classification

2.1. Flint

2.2. Dent

E. Standard Packaging and Labeling for Milled Rice and Shelled Corn

Commodity		Packaging		Labeling
Classification	Package Size (kg)	Type of	Color of	Required
and Grade		Material	Packaging	Information
					Material
A.	BIG PACKAGE	15, 20, 25, 30, 35,	Woven		•	Classification (i.e.,
			40, 45, 50	Polypropylene			whether Well Milled,
			(multiples of 5)	(WPP),non-			Regular Milled or
				transparent or			Under Milled for rice)
				transparent type
						•	Variety (Optional
	•	Special Rice			Sky Blue		except for Special
							Rice)
	•	Premium Grade			Light Yellow
		Rice				•	Grade (i.e., whether
							Premium Grade,
	•	Well Milled Rice			White		Grade Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4
		Grade No. 1					or 5)
		Grade Nos. 2,
		3, 4 or 5 (Super)
						•	Net Weight (kg)
	•	Regular Milled			White
		Rice				•	Name and address
		Grade Nos. 2,					of Miller
		3, 4 or 5
						•	Name and address of
	•	Under Milled	One (1) cavan of		White		Owner (in case of
		Rice	rice or corn				custom milling)
		Grade Nos. 2,	commodity shall
		3, 4 or 5	be a unit		Transparent WPP	•	Iron fortified rice (if
		(ordinary)	containing fifty		sacks shall be fully		applicable)
			(50) kilograms		or partially
			net weight of		color-coded for
			such commodity.		Special and
			The words		Premium Grade
			when packed		Rice but shall be
			and "as packed"		strictly colored
			following the net		white for other
			weight shall not		grades. However
			be allowed.		the color-coded
					portion shall be
					dominant in
					proportion with
					the background.
•	Shelled Corn		Woven	Light Green	•	Classification (i.e.,
	Premium Grade,		Polypropylene			whether White or
	Grade Nos. 1, 2,					Yellow Corn and Flint
	or 3 (ordinary)					or Dent Corn for
							shelled corn)
						•	Grade (i.e., whether
							Premium Grade, Grade
							Nos. 1, 2, or 3)
						•	Net Weight (kg)
B.	SMALL PACKAGE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,	Polyethylene,	Polyethylene bags	The required
			7, 8, 9, 10, 11,	paper of	may not be	information shall be
			12, 13, 14, 15 or	carton	color-coded.	printed in bold letters
			fraction thereof (e.g.,		However,	on the color-coded
			2.5, 5.5, 12.5, etc.)		color-coded paper	sacks and containers for
					corresponding to	milled rice and shelled
					the classification	corn, both for big and
					and grade of the	small packages.
					commodity (refer
					to color-coding of
					big packages)
					may be inserted
					inside the
					package.

 

Particulars	Standards Requirement
1.	Size of Price Tag (Length x width)	28 cm x 21.5 cm for big rice boxes (legal
			size bond paper)
			21.5 cm x 16.5 cm for smaller boxes (1/2
			legal size bond paper)
2.	Color of Price Tag
	•	Special Rice	Sky Blue
	•	Premium Grade Rice	Light Yellow
	•	Well Milled Rice	White
		Grade No. 1
		Grade Nos. 2, 3, 4 or 5 (Super)
	•	Regular Milled Rice	White
		Grade Nos. 2, 3, 4 or 5
	•	Under Milled Rice	White
		Grade Nos. 2, 3, 4 or 5 (ordinary)
	•	Shelled Corn	Light Green
		Premium Grade,
		Grade Nos. 1, 2, or 3 (ordinary)
3.	Color of Print on Price Tag	Black
4.	Prescribed Information	Price per kilogram (P/kg)
			Classification
			Variety (optional except for Special Rice)
			Iron-Enriched Rice (starting 2004)
			Grade

Note:

1. Unpacked milled rice and corn for retail must be displayed in white painted rice/corn boxes which shall be free of posters/advertisements. The prescribed color-coded price tag shall be conspicuously displayed on the grains box.

2. The required information shall be printed in bold letters and figures (except the symbol kg) on the color-coded price tag.

For further details, please visit NFA website www.nfa.gov.ph.

Any violation and/or non-compliance with this Letter Circular shall subject the offender to the penalties imposed under Section 29 of the Act promulgated under P.D. 4, as amended, and other pertinent laws, notwithstanding the provisions of any law and regulations to the contrary.

This is for strict compliance. AHDacC

 

(SGD.) ORLAN A. CALAYAGAdministrator