The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) approved the code of practice against aflatoxin contamination in corn, as Philippine National Standard (PNS) – Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) 27:2018, Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxin contamination in corn.
The PNS/BAFS 27:2018 provides adequate measures to manage aflatoxin contamination in the supply chain following the framework of farm to table approach to food safety. It also provides guidance to all persons involved in producing and handling corn for entry into local and international trade intended for human and animal consumption. This code constitutes from on-farm production to on-farm/off-farm storage. This code of practice recommends measures that should be implemented by all persons that have the responsibility of assuring that food and feed are safe from aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a group of highly poisonous and carcinogenic compounds which are produced by strains of fungi, Aspergillus flavus Link and Aspergillus parasiticus Speare, on suitable substrate such as corn, peanuts, copra, and, other oilseeds.
DTI-BPS Director James E. Empeño highlights, “The code of practice for the prevention and reduction of aflatoxin contamination in corn provides uniform guidance for all corn stakeholders, as well as serves as reference and basis for compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for corn”.
The DTI-BPS is the National Standards Body of the Philippines. It is the Philippines’ member to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The PNS/BAFS 27:2018 is available for purchase at the DTI-BPS’ Standards Data Center (SDC), located at the DTI Main Office, 3F Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. To purchase, clients may download the PNS Request Form from the DTI-BPS website, http://www.bps.dti.gov.ph, fill up the form and send it through email, bps@dti.gov.ph, or present it to the DTI-BPS’ SDC for processing and payment.
For more information, please call the DTI-BPS SDC at (02) 791.3127 or 507.7307 or send an e-mail through bps@dti.gov.ph. ♦
Date of Release: 10 April 2019