Overview - ISO 6900:2025 for dried red jujubes
ISO 6900:2025, "Dried red jujubes - Specification and test methods", defines international quality, safety and testing requirements for dried red jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). The standard covers product description, classification, mandatory quality characteristics, limits for contaminants and residues, sampling and laboratory test methods, and requirements for packaging, labelling, storage and transportation. Its aim is to harmonize product specification to facilitate trade and consistent quality control of dried jujubes worldwide.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and product description: Applies to dried red jujubes prepared by shade, sun or industrial drying; peel colour ranges from red to purplish red.
- Classification: Four quality classes - Extra class, Class I, Class II, Class III - with defined appearance and compositional thresholds.
- Compositional limits:
- Moisture content: ≤ 20 % (general requirement).
- Sugar content: class-based minima - Extra ≥ 75 %, Class I ≥ 70 %, Class II ≥ 65 %, Class III ≥ 60 %.
- Impurity content: class-based maxima - Extra ≤ 0.1 %, Class I ≤ 0.3 %, Class II ≤ 0.5 %, Class III ≤ 0.5 %.
- Sulfur dioxide (residual): ≤ 1 000 mg/kg.
- Microbiological/physical contaminants: Fruit must be free from living insects, mites and moulds; practically free from visible dead insect fragments or rodent contamination.
- Tolerances: Permitted percentages of defects vary by class (e.g., Extra class total defects ≤ 3 %, Class I ≤ 5 %, Class II ≤ 10 %, Class III ≤ 15 %).
- Sampling & test methods: Sampling in accordance with ISO 874 and ISO 2859‑1; normative methods for sugar and moisture determination are provided in Annexes B and C; sulfur dioxide method referenced (ISO 5522).
- Packaging, labelling, storage & transportation: Requirements to preserve quality during distribution and trade.
Applications - who uses ISO 6900
- Producers and processors of dried jujubes (grading, drying and sorting operations).
- Quality control and analytical laboratories performing moisture, sugar and sulfur dioxide tests.
- Exporters, importers and traders using a harmonized specification to meet buyer or regulatory requirements.
- Regulators and food safety authorities adopting consistent limits for contaminants and labelling.
- Retailers and food manufacturers sourcing standardized dried jujube material for further processing (candied jujube, jujube paste, juices).
Related standards and references
- ISO 874 - Sampling
- ISO 2859‑1 - Inspection by attributes (AQL)
- ISO 5522 - Determination of total sulfur dioxide
- CXS 1‑1985 - General Standard for the Labelling of Prepacked Foods
- CXC 193‑1995 and regional pesticide residues guidance
Using ISO 6900:2025 helps ensure consistent product quality, supports international trade of dried red jujubes, and provides clear test methods for industry and regulators.
