Description

Pulses Are Dry Seeds Of Leguminous Plants Which Are Distinguished From Leguminous Oil Seeds By Their Low Fat Content. The Pulses Covered By This Standard Are The Following:

·       Beans Of Phaseolus Spp. (Except Phaseolus Mungo L. Syn. Vigna Mungo (L.) Hepper And Phaseolus Aureus Roxb. Syn. Phaseolus Radiatur L., Vigna Radiata (L.) Wilczek);

·       Lentils Of Lens Culinaris Medic. Syn. Lens Esculenta Moench.;

·       Peas Of Pisum Sativum L.;

·       Chick Peas Of Cicer Arientinum L.;

·       Field Beans Of Vicia Faba L.;

·       Cow Peas Of Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp., Syn. Vigna Sesquipedalis Fruhw., Vigna Sinensis (L.) Savi Exd Hassk.

ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS

Quality Factors – General :-

·       Pulses Shall Be Safe And Suitable For Human Consumption.

·       Pulses Shall Be Free From Abnormal Flavour, Odours, And Living Insects.

·       Pulses Shall Be Free From Filth (Impurities Of Animal Origin, Including Dead Insects) In Amounts Which May Represent A Hazard To Human Health.

Quality Factors – Specific :-

·       Moisture Content :-

·       Two Maximum Moisture Levels Are Provided To Meet Different Climatic Conditions And Marketing Practices. Lower Values In The First Column Are Suggested For Countries With Tropical Climates Or When Long-Term (More Than One Crop Year) Storage Is A Normal Commercial Practice. The Values In The Second Column Are Suggested For More Moderate Climates Or When Other Short-Term Storage Is The Normal Commercial Practice.

·       Lower Moisture Limits Should Be Required For Certain Destinations In Relation To The Climate, Duration Of Transport And Storage.

·       Extraneous Matter Is Mineral Or Organic Matter (Dust, Twigs, Seedcoats, Seeds Of Other Species, Dead Insects, Fragments, Or Remains Of Insects, Other Impurities Of Animal Origin). Pulses 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.

CONTAMINANTS

Heavy Metals :-

·       Pulses Shall Be Free From Heavy Metals In Amounts Which May Represent A Hazard To Health.

Pesticide Residues :-

·       Pulses Shall Comply With Those Maximum Residue Limits Established By The Codex Alimentarius Commission For This Commodity.

Mycotoxins :-

·       Pulses Shall Comply With Those Maximum Mycotoxin Limits Established By The Codex Alimentarius Commission For This Commodity.

HYGIENE

·       It Is Recommended That The Products Covered By The Provisions Of This Standard Be Prepared And Handled In Accordance With The Appropriate Sections Of The General Principles Of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969), And Other Codes Of Practice Recommended By The Codex Alimentarius Commission Which Are Relevant To These Products.

·       To The Extent Possible In Good Manufacturing Practice, The Products Shall Be Free From Objectionable Matter.

When Tested By Appropriate Methods Of Sampling And Examination, The Products:

·       Shall Be Free From Micro-Organisms In Amounts Which May Represent A Hazard To Health;

·       Shall Be Free From Parasites Which May Represent A Hazard To Health;

·       Shall Not Contain Any Substance Originating From Micro-Organisms In Amounts Which May Represent A Hazard To Health.

PACKAGING

·       Pulses Shall Be Packaged In Containers Which Will Safeguard The Hygienic, Nutritional, Technological, And Organoleptic Qualities Of The Product.

·       The Containers, Including Packaging Material, Shall Be Made Of Substances Which Are Safe And Suitable For Their Intended Use. They Should Not Impart Any Toxic Substance Or Undesirable Odour Or Flavour To The Product.

·       When The Product Is Packaged In Sacks, These Must Be Clean, Sturdy And Strongly Sewn Or Sealed.

LABELLING

·       In Addition To The Requirements Of The General Standard For The Labelling Of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985), The Following Specific Provisions Apply: 

Name Of The Product :-

·       The Name Of The Product To Be Shown On The Label Shall Be The Commercial Type Of The Pulse.

Labelling Of Non-Retail Containers :-

·       Information For Non-Retail Containers Shall Either Be Given On The Container Or In Accompanying Documents, Except That The Name Of The Product, Lot Identification And The Name And Address Of The Manufacturer Or Packer Shall Appear On The Container. However, Lot Identification And The Name And Address Of The Manufacturer Or Packer May Be Replaced By An Identification Mark, Provided That Such A Mark Is Clearly Identifiable With The Accompanying Documents.

METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING :-

·       For Checking The Compliance With This Standard, The Methods Of Analysis And Sampling Contained In The Recommended Methods Of Analysis And Sampling (CXS 234-1999) Relevant To The Provisions In This Standard Shall Be Used.