General Commodity Standards
- Moisture content for rice and corn not to exceed 14% on "as received" basis.
- Commodities must be free from objectionable or foreign odors, live insect pests, and other contaminants.
- Chemical residues must not exceed maximum limits set by the FAO-WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.
- Aflatoxin content in shelled corn and corngrits limited to 20 parts per billion (ppb) for human food and 50 ppb for animal feeds.
- Strict procedures mandated for the disposition of rejected shelled corn and corngrits.
Palay (Unmilled Rice) Specifications
- Classification based on brown rice grain size: Very Long, Long, Medium, Short Grain.
- Palay Variety defined as traditional (e.g., Intan, Raminad) or modern genetically improved varieties (e.g., C-4, IR series).
- Special varieties such as Dinorado, Sigadis, Milagrosa, Sampaguita are to be graded separately and certified by the National Seed Industry Council.
- Grading standards specify purity and foreign matter limits as follows:
- Premium: Minimum 98% purity, max 2% foreign matter.
- Grade No. 1: 95% purity, max 5% foreign matter.
- Grade No. 2: 90% purity, max 10% foreign matter.
- Grade No. 3: 85% purity, max 15% foreign matter.
Milled Rice Specifications
- Classified by grain size: Very Long, Long, Medium, Short Grain.
- Degree of milling categories: Overmilled, Well milled, Regular milled, Undermilled.
- Rice variety refers to the palay species from which it was milled, including traditional, modern, and special varieties like glutinous or aromatic rice.
- Grading based on head rice and broken grain content:
- Premium: Minimum 95% head rice, max 5% broken grains.
- Grade No. 1: 90% head rice, max 10% broken grains.
- Grade No. 2: 85% head rice, max 15% broken grains.
- Grade No. 3: 75% head rice, max 25% broken grains.
- Grade No. 4: 65% head rice, max 35% broken grains.
- Grade No. 5: 55% head rice, max 45% broken grains.
Shelled Corn Specifications
- Shelled corn defined as kernels of dent or flint varieties of Zea mays.
- Types include White, Yellow, and Mixed Corn.
- Classification by kernel type: Flint or Dent.
Packaging and Labeling Requirements
- Big package sizes: 15 to 50 kilograms in multiples of 5.
- Packaging materials for big packages: woven polypropylene (WPP), either transparent or non-transparent.
- Color coding for milled rice big packages:
- Sky blue for special rice.
- Light yellow for premium grade rice.
- White for well milled, regular milled, and under milled rice (with specific codes per grade).
- Shelled corn big packages use light green WPP sacks.
- One cavan equals 50 kilograms net weight. Phrases "when packed" and "as packed" are disallowed following net weight statements.
- Small packages (1 to 15 kilograms and fractions) may be polyethylene bags or paper/carton; color-coding optional for polyethylene bags but required in paper inserts.
- Required labeling information includes:
- Classification and grade.
- Variety (optional except for special rice).
- Net weight.
- Name and address of miller or owner for custom milling.
- Iron fortified rice designation if applicable.
- Price tags must be printed in bold black letters, sized according to box size, with color-coded backgrounds matching grade classification.
- Unpacked rice and corn for retail sale must be displayed in white painted boxes without advertisements; color-coded price tags must be clearly shown.
Compliance and Penalties
- Non-compliance or violation of the Circular subjects offenders to penalties under Section 29 of P.D. 4, as amended, and other relevant laws.
- Strict enforcement and compliance are mandated.
Additional Information
- Detailed information and updates are made available on the National Food Authority’s official website.
This comprehensive outline covers the law's critical provisions on standards for rice and corn, ensuring quality, classification, grading, packaging, labeling, and enforcement guidelines.