Overview - ISO 19942:2018 Maize (Zea mays L.) - Specification
ISO 19942:2018 specifies minimum quality, safety and handling requirements for maize (Zea mays L.) intended for human consumption and international trade. The standard defines sensory, health, physical and chemical characteristics, sampling and test methods, and transportation requirements to ensure traded maize meets consistent, verifiable quality criteria.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope: Applies to maize for human consumption that is the subject of international trade.
- General characteristics: Maize shall be sound, clean and free from foreign or deteriorating odours.
- Health and contaminant limits:
- Free from intentionally added hazardous substances and heavy metals at levels that pose health risks.
- Should not contain mycotoxins, pesticide residues or other contaminants above national/regional or Codex Alimentarius limits.
- Free from specified living insects (Annex B) and visible mites when tested by ISO 6639‑3/4 and sieving methods.
- Physical and chemical specifications:
- Moisture content: ≤ 14.5% (ISO 6540) - note climate/duration-dependent exceptions referenced.
- Bulk density: ≥ 60 kg/hl (mass per hectolitre), measured per ISO 7971‑1 or ISO 7971‑3.
- Impurities: Maximum total impurities (broken, damaged, other grains, miscellaneous) ≤ 15% by mass. Specific maximums (by mass fraction):
- Broken grains: 6.0%
- Damaged grains: 10.0%
- Miscellaneous impurities: 1.0%
- Extraneous matter: 1.0%
- Impurities of animal origin: 0.1%
- Test methods & sampling: Sampling per ISO 24333; impurity determination per Annexes C and D and ISO 5223 sieves.
- Transportation: Maize must be transported free of living pests and protected from water and contamination.
Practical applications - who uses ISO 19942:2018
- Exporters and importers of maize who need to meet buyer specifications and national/regional regulatory limits.
- Grain traders, commodity inspectors and laboratories performing quality control, sampling and testing (moisture, bulk density, impurities).
- Food processors and millers requiring incoming raw-material specifications to ensure process efficiency and food safety.
- Regulators and standard-setting bodies referencing consistent criteria for international trade and phytosanitary control.
Related standards and normative references
- ISO 6540 (moisture), ISO 7971‑1/3 (bulk density), ISO 5223 (test sieves), ISO 6639‑3/4 (hidden insect infestation), ISO 24333 (sampling). Annex A lists indicative noxious seeds; Annex B lists unacceptable insect/mites; Annexes C–D cover impurity determination procedures.
Keywords: ISO 19942:2018, maize specification, Zea mays, maize quality, moisture content, bulk density, impurities, sampling, test methods, international trade.