Regulations for Grading of Grain

AGBIZ explains the regulation of Grain By-law as follows:

The Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development ensures the ongoing development and maintenance of uniform standards for South African inspection and weighing procedures for grain.

Grading regulations promote fair business practices and a competitive marketing environment for grain and oilseeds. By the correct application of the grading regulations, fair and competitive trading practices are promoted to the overall benefit of consumers and the agricultural industry.

The grading regulations ensure reliable and accepted descriptions of crop quality and value and promote economic health and prosperity in agriculture. The regulations contribute to the successful marketing of South African grain and related agricultural products through the creation of standards for quality requirements and provide guidelines for the regulation of impartial handling practices.

Grain quality refers to the safety and hygiene of grain, the appropriateness of quality for specific end-use and processing, and, in some cases, the composition of grain varieties or cultivars.

Grading regulations provide quality control for the entire grain industry. These guidelines have been prepared under the authority of the DALRRD for the purpose of clarity and transparency in the grain industry. Grain grades are a measure of grain quality and therefore grain inspection and grading of grain consignments are of utmost importance. Scientific and technical programs and services support the determination of quality grain consignments. Grading regulations determine the definition of grading standards and ensure that these standards are applied consistently and provide consistent results for our clients on both the delivery and the customer side of a transaction. The regulations provide a breakdown of the official policies and procedures for the sampling methodology and the guidelines for a range of other requirements.

Sampling for inspection purposes must meet the requirements in the regulation for the particular crop. Subject to this regulation, the inspector will conduct an official investigation of the grain by taking a representative sample of the grain in the prescribed manner. The operator of a grain silo will install the necessary equipment for efficient and accurate weighing, sampling, inspection, grading, quality determinations, drying, cleaning and storage of all grain, grain products and screenings received or dispatched by the grain silo. The maintenance of such facilities, equipment and structure of the grain silo are prescribed in the regulations.

The grading system provides a range of maximum permissible levels for a variety of important characteristics and so determines the various grades. This ensures that grain complies with certain functionalities, as well as safety and hygiene, and is free from disease, harmful seeds or other adverse factors within specific limits.

The grading system ensures that the quality of any product from any producer is assessed in the same manner. In addition, it is focused on the customer's end-use requirements for grain and is based on scientific support. The set of standards applied to grain to ensure that it meets a specific grade is based on the requirements for the final product. This means that the grading factors for grain will always be relevant to customers' needs. The grade requirements of grain and the corresponding maximum permissible levels were developed with the aim of making a positive impact on the end-use functionality. When customers buy grain according to the official grades, it is not necessary for them to rely on additional contract specifications. They can be assured of satisfactory performance of such grain.

All deliveries and shipments are accompanied by a document that assurance of grain quality to the producer or buyer. If there is a dispute regarding any aspect of the grain's grade or performance, the matter will be investigated immediately.

All grain accepted at your company’s silo must comply with the highest quality. Aspects to be considered are insect infestation, fungal contamination, other grains or foreign matter such as straw, weeds or other potentially undesirable material. This continuity contributes significantly to the maintenance of uniformity and quality. Strict grading standards and cleaning procedures at silos ensure that buyers get the quality they pay for. This is a benefit for millers as excessive cleaning of grain can increase their costs of operation and maintenance of cleaning equipment. Cleaner grain will also lead to higher returns when processing.