,"EAS has issued draft standard DEAS 1287:2025 for Vanilla (Vanilla fragrans Salisbury Ames) is designed to harmonize quality and safety requirements for vanilla traded within the East African Community (EAC). This standard covers vanilla in various forms including pods, bulk, cut, and powder, specifying essential parameters to ensure consistent quality and consumer protection.The detailed parameters and values for the vanilla specification from the draft East African Standard DEAS 1287:2025 are as follows:
Moisture Content:
Vanilla pods: Max. 38%
Vanilla powder: Max. 30%, with finer powder passing through a sieve of 1.25 mm.
Vanillin Content:
Minimum: 1.6 g (per the standard’s requirement for classification)
Maximum: 2.4 g, with higher content indicating possible adulteration with synthetic vanillin.
Contaminant Limits:
Aflatoxins: Should not exceed 10 ppb total aflatoxins (ISO 16050 method).
Pesticide Residues: Must not exceed maximum residue limits set by Codex guidelines.
Heavy Metals: Comply with limits specified in Codex standards.
Physical and Organoleptic Parameters:
Color: Dark chocolate brown to reddish.
Odor: Typical of vanilla, not musty, creosote, or oxidized.
Extraneous Matter: Must be absent or within acceptable limits.
Classification of Vanilla Pods:
Stepwise quality categories based on appearance, color, and stains (categories 1-4, split/non-split).
Labeling and Packaging:
Must be in food-grade material, clearly labeled, with details like origin, harvest year, batch, date of packaging, net weight, and storage conditions.
This supply chain and quality parameters ensure that vanilla meets safety, purity, and quality standards suitable for regional trade and consumer protection in East Africa."