PEPPER

GRADES OF WHOLE PEPPER, BLACK & WHITE* (IPC)

INTERNATIONAL PEPPER COMMUNITY GRADES OF WHOLE PEPPER, BLACK & WHITE*
QUALITY PARAMETER	BLACK PEPPER (Whole)		WHITE PEPPER (Whole)
QUALITY PARAMETER	IPC BP-1	IPC BP-2	IPC WP-1	IPC WP-2
MACRO
1. Bulk Density (g/l, min.)	550	500	600	600
2. Moisture (% vol/wt, max.)	12	14	13	15
3. Light Berries/Corns (% by wt, max.)	2	10	1	2
4. Extraneous Matter (% by wt, max.)	1	2	1	2
5. Black Berries/Corns (% by wt, max)	Not applicable	Not applicable	1	2
6. Mouldy Berries/Corns (% by wt, max.)	1	3	1	3
7. Insect Defiled Berries/Corns (% by wt, max)	1	2	1	2
8. Whole Insects, dead or alive (by count, max)	Not more than 2 numbers in each sub sample and not more than 5 numbers in total sub-samples.		Not more than 2 numbers in each sub sample and not more than 5 numbers in total sub-samples.
9. Mammalian or/and Other Excreta (by count, max)	Shall be free of any visible mammalian or/and other excreta.		Shall be free of any visible mammalian or/and other excreta.
MICROBIOLOGICAL
1. Salmonella (detection / 25g)	Negative	Negative	Negative	Negative
NOTES: IPC BP-2 and IPC WP-2 are grades of pepper, which has been partially processed (i.e. has gone through some basic cleaning processes like sieving and winnowing) IPC BP-1 and IPC WP-1 are grades of pepper, which has been further processed (i.e. has gone through further cleaning processes including sieving, cycloning, destining, washing and mechanical drying) *Adopted at 29th IPC Session of IPC held at Belem Hilton, Brazil, on 2nd Nov. 2001

INTERNATIONAL PEPPER COMMUNITY GRADES OF TREATED WHOLE PEPPER, BLACK AND WHITE **
	QUALITY PARAMETER	BLACK PEPPER		WHITE PEPPER
	QUALITY PARAMETER	IPC BPT-1	IPC BPT-2	IPC WPT-1	IPC WPT-2
MACRO
1.	Bulk Density (g/l, minimum)	550	500	600	600
2.	Moisture (% vol/wt, maximum)	12	12	12	12
3.	Light Berries/Corns (% by wt, maximum)	2	10	1	2
4.	Extraneous Matter (% by wt, maximum)	1	2	1	2
5.	Black Berries/Corns (% by wt, maximum)	Not applicable	Not applicable	1	2
6.	Mouldy Berries/Corns (% by wt, maximum)	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
7.	Insect Defiled Berries/Corns (% by wt, maximum)	1	2	1	2
8.	Whole Insects, Dead (by count, maximum)	Not more than 2 numbers in each sub sample and not more than 5 numbers in total sub-samples.		Not more than 2 numbers in each sub sample and not more than 5 numbers in total sub-samples.
9.	Mammalian or/and Other Excreta (by count, maximum)	Shall be free of any visible mammalian or/and other excreta.		Shall be free of any visible mammalian or/and other excreta.
MICROBIOLOGICAL
1.	Aerobic Plate Count (cfu/g, maximum)	5 x 104	5 x 104	5 x 104	5 x 104
2.	Mould & Yeast (cfu/g, maximum)	1 x 103	1 x 103	1 x 103	1 x 103
3.	Escherichia coli (MPN/g)	< 3	< 3	< 3	< 3
4.	Salmonella (detection / 25g)	Negative	Negative	Negative	Negative
NOTES: IPC BPT-1 and IPC WPT-1 are grades for pepper, which has been processed (i.e. has gone through further cleaning processes including sieving, cycloning, destoning, washing and mechanical drying), and has subsequently undergone an internationally accepted treatment process to reduce its microbiological contamination. IPC BP-2 and IPC WP-2 are grades for pepper, which has been partially processed (i.e. has gone through basic cleaning processes like sieving and winnowing), and has subsequently undergone an internationally accepted treatment process to reduce its microbiological contamination. The treatment process shall be undertaken by qualified/trained personnel, and in compliance with internationally accepted standard operation procedures and regulations regarding the process. The treated pepper shall be packaged in suitable, clean and sterile packaging materials, clearly labeled to indicate, inter alia, the treatment process as required by standard regulations, appropriately handled and stored in a clean & well-ventilated store, to protect and maintain the integrity of the product for the entire period of its intended shelf-life. Cfu = Colony-forming unit. MPN = Most Probable Number. **Revised at the 7th Meeting of Committee on Q.S. held on 23rd Sept 2002 at Hilton Hotel, Kuching, Malaysia and adopted at the 30th Session of IPC, 27th Sept. 2002

Last updated: 23-06-2008

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