Copra Inspection and Grading Procedures & Process

The governing body responsible for issuing an inspection certificate is the Commodities Export Marketing Authorities (CEMA).

CEMA continues to carry out Quality Assurance tasks ensuring that only good quality coconut products that meets the quality standards are to be exported. These include sampling at the exporters shed, quality analysis at the CEMA Cocoa Laboratory, then issuing of Inspection Certificates for exports.

To apply for an inspection, one must have a contract ready with a buyer and the consignment ready to be shipped as the certificate is valid for only 14 days.

To apply for a CEMA inspector to inspect the consignment, an application form can be requested at their head office, filled out and submitted, and will be considered for approval before an inspector is sent out.

• This is the process of selecting good copra from poor quality copra and foreign matters
• Inspector may inspect and grade copra during daylight hours.
• May refuse or delay inspection and grading if the inspector decides natural daylight is insufficient.

CHARACTERISTICS	GRADE 1	GRADE 2	SUBSTANDARD
Cleanliness	Dust & dirt free	Dust & dirt < 3%	> 3%
Color	White, grey, light brown	Brown	Dark brown, black
Mould	Free from mould	Less mould	Excessive
Germinated Nuts	Less quantity	Reasonable quantity	Unreasonable quantity
Moisture	< 6%	< 6%	> 6%
FFA	< 3%	< 3%	> 3%
Odour	Good copra smell	Good copra smell	Smoke, foul or foreign smells

Grade Points

For the purpose of grading copra, points shall be awarded for qualities and features of copra as follows:

A	COLOR AND SMELL	POINTS
I	White, grey, light brown, free from smokey smell	60
II	Brown, free from smokey smell	30
III	Dark brown, or smoked	10
B	CLEANLINESS	POINTS
I	Free from dust, dirt and small pieces of copra	40
II	Free from excessive dust, dirt and small pieces of copra	20