ISO 7970-2021 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 7970:2021 — Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) — Specification. This International Standard establishes minimum commercial and quality specifications for common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intended for human consumption and for wheat that is the subject of international (and local) trade.

Abstract

This document defines minimum requirements and tolerances for sensory, physical and chemical characteristics of wheat, including moisture content, bulk density (mass per hectolitre), impurities and indicators of enzyme activity (falling number), and specifies related sampling and test-method references to support international trade and quality assessment.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 5 January 2021 (published edition 4, 2021-01).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 67.060 — Cereals, pulses and derived products.
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (2021).
• Number of pages: 22 pages (ISO published text).

Scope

ISO 7970:2021 establishes minimum specifications for grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intended for human consumption and for wheat that is traded internationally; it is also applicable to local trade. The standard sets out required characteristics, tolerances and references to sampling and test methods needed to verify conformity.

Key topics and requirements

• General and sensory requirements: freedom from foreign or objectionable odours and visible contaminants.
• Health and contaminants: compliance with national or Codex limits for pesticide residues and contaminants; freedom from specified living insects and mites when tested by referenced ISO methods.
• Moisture content: a maximum moisture content specified in the standard (determination referenced to ISO 712); typical maximum value given in the standard text is 14.5 % mass fraction (destination-specific requirements may differ).
• Bulk density (mass per hectolitre): minimum mass/hl requirement (determined using ISO 7971 series methods) — commonly not less than 70 kg/hl.
• Impurities and damaged kernels: maximum permissible proportions for broken, shrivelled, unsound and pest‑attacked kernels, other cereals, extraneous matter and inorganic material; the standard gives numeric tolerances (for example, broken grains, other cereals and extraneous matter have specified percentage maxima and combined damaged‑grain limits).
• α‑Amylase activity / Falling Number: reference to method (ISO 3093) and minimum falling‑number requirements to indicate sprout damage/enzymatic activity.
• Sampling and test method references: normative references to ISO methods for sampling, moisture determination, bulk‑density measurement and insect detection (for example ISO 712, ISO 7971‑1/3, ISO 6639 series).
• Labelling and conformity: specification supports commercial contracts and acceptance criteria used by traders, processors and regulatory bodies.

Typical use and users

Primary users include grain traders and brokers, exporters/importers, grain terminal and silo operators, milling and food processing companies, quality control and testing laboratories, national standards bodies and agencies responsible for trade and food safety. The standard is used to define contract specifications, inspection criteria and testing protocols for consignments of wheat.

Related standards

ISO 7970:2021 is linked to and references a number of related ISO standards used for sampling and testing, notably ISO 712 (moisture determination for cereals), the ISO 7971 series (mass per hectolitre / bulk density methods), ISO 3093 (Falling Number — α‑amylase activity), ISO 6639 (insect detection), and other ISO/TC 34/SC 4 deliverables for cereals and pulses. These referenced methods provide the test procedures necessary to verify conformity with ISO 7970 requirements.

Keywords

wheat; Triticum aestivum; specification; cereals; moisture content; bulk density; mass per hectolitre; impurities; broken kernels; falling number; sampling; ISO 712; ISO 7971; ISO 3093; ISO/TC 34/SC 4.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 7970:2021 is an International Standard that specifies minimum commercial and quality requirements for common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intended for human consumption and trade.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sensory, physical and chemical characteristics and tolerances (moisture, bulk density, impurities, falling number/α‑amylase activity, insect presence, etc.), and it references the ISO test methods used to determine conformity.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Grain traders, importers/exporters, millers and food processors, storage and logistics operators, QC/testing laboratories and national standards or regulatory agencies use the standard to set contract specifications and acceptance tests.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 7970:2021 (Edition 4) is the current published version (published January 2021), superseding ISO 7970:2011. The ISO record shows the 2021 edition as published and under systematic review according to ISO lifecycle information.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: While ISO 7970 is a standalone specification for wheat, it is used together with a suite of ISO methods and related standards (for example ISO 712, ISO 7971 parts, ISO 3093, ISO 6639) maintained by ISO/TC 34/SC 4 for cereals and pulses.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Wheat, Triticum aestivum, specification, cereals, moisture, bulk density, mass per hectolitre, impurities, falling number, sampling, ISO 712, ISO 7971, ISO 3093.