Overview
EN ISO 7301:2022/A1:2024 (ISO 7301:2021/Amd 1:2024) is a CEN-endorsed amendment to the international rice specification standard ISO 7301:2021. Approved July 2024, this amendment updates terminology and labelling requirements related to rice milling degree and clarifies sensory definitions. It is intended for adoption as a national standard across CEN members by January 2025. Keywords: EN ISO 7301, rice specification, milling degree, rice quality, CEN.
Key topics and technical requirements
- New terminological entries describing milling grades:
- Under-milled rice - milled so that some bran and some embryo remain.
- Well-milled rice - milled so that most bran and most embryo are removed.
- Extra-well-milled rice - milled so that all bran and all embryo are removed.
- Note: The maximum content of kernels containing traces of embryo shall be less than 0.5% in test portion aliquots of about 100 g (see A.4.3.3).
- Sensory clarification:
- A note clarifies that a “particular aroma” refers to aroma derived from the rice itself, not from substances intentionally added post‑harvest.
- Labelling and tolerances:
- The amendment adds milling degree as an attribute that may be specified (Clause 4.3.c), and requires defining the tolerance for milling degree expressed as a mass fraction when declared on the contract or label.
- Standards governance:
- Prepared by ISO/TC 34 (Food products) in collaboration with CEN/TC 338 (Cereal and cereal products). The amendment was endorsed without modification by CEN.
Practical applications and users
This amendment is practical for stakeholders involved in rice production, processing and trade:
- Rice millers and processors - to classify and declare milling degree and set tolerances in product specifications.
- Quality control and testing laboratories - to apply the defined sampling (≈100 g aliquots) and embryo trace limits for conformance testing.
- Food retailers, wholesalers and buyers - to define purchase specifications and verify labels for milling grade and intrinsic aroma claims.
- Regulatory bodies and standards committees - to harmonize national regulations and labeling rules with CEN/ISO requirements.
- Importers/exporters - to reduce disputes by referencing a common technical definition of milling grades and tolerances.
Related standards
This amendment supports consistent grading, labelling and quality control for rice products across European and international markets.
