Cereals and other grain products
Breakfast cereals like cornflakes and muesli as well as other cereal products such as flour, grains and pasta are made from various seed varieties such as wheat, oats, barley, rye and maize.
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| Download | Description | |||
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | ||||
| Information about origin - non-compound products | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Information about origin can be enlightening for contracting authorities, e.g. which environmental laws applied to the production. Traceability is a prerequisite for being able to track any product defects and ensuring that the product meets the correct quality requirements. Criterion text For non-compound products made of a single raw material, un-mixed or mixed with flavourings, additives or equivalent, written information must be provided upon request:
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| Information about origin compound products - plant products | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Information about origin can be enlightening for contracting authorities, e.g. which environmental laws applied to the production. Traceability is a prerequisite for being able to track any product defects and ensuring that the product meets the correct quality requirements. Criterion text For compound products with a raw material content of cereals, sugar, fruit, vegetables etc. of over 20% of the individual product, written information regarding where (crop land) the raw material is cultivated and processed must be provided on request. | ||||
| GMO-free product | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been conclusively determined. Food that contains GMOs must be labelled. Criterion text Products made of cereals and sugar must not contain GMOs in quantities that require labelling. 1 | ||||
| No straw-shortening agents | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Plant growth regulators are plant protection products used in growing cereals to reduce the risk of crop lodging. Minimal or no use of plant growth regulators entails a reduced risk for residues in food and spreading of chemical substances to the environment. Criterion text Unprocessed products made from cereals such as flour, made of wheat, oats and barley must have been grown without the use of plant growth regulators. | ||||
| Cadmium content in the product | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Cadmium that accumulates in the ground can pose long-term health and environmental risks. Cadmium can be absorbed by the root systems of the plants and introduced to arable land through air pollution or commercial fertilisers. Digested sludge and livestock effluents can also contribute to the introduction of cadmium to arable land. Criterion text The cadmium content of non-compound products made of raw wheat and/or oats must not exceed 0.1 mg/kg wet weight.1 | ||||
| Wheat cultivated with BAT-fertilizer | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Production made with less resource demanding and/or cleaning techniques can contribute to reduced climate impact. Criterion text Raw material of wheat in the product must have been produced with electricity from renewable resources1 (hydropower, wind power, solar energy, biofuels, waste heat or Nordic electricity mix) for drying and storage and been cultivated with fertilizer from a production facility which uses nitrous oxide purification. | ||||
Breakfast cereals like cornflakes and muesli as well as other cereal products such as flour, grains and pasta are made from various seed varieties such as wheat, oats, barley, rye and maize.
In the cultivation of cereals, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are the predominant greenhouse gases resulting from the use of fossil energy, transportation, etc., as well as when nitrogen is converted in the soil and during the production of mineral fertilisers. In the conventional cultivation of cereals and sugar, pesticides are used. Pesticides are used to protect plants and plant products against funguses, pests or competing plants. The use of pesticides is regulated by common EU regulations. As of 1 January 2014, all professional growers across the EU must apply for Integrated Pest Management. The aim is to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides.
A straw-shortening agent is a pesticide used to reduce the risk of lodging on cereals. A minimised use or avoidance of straw-shortening agents means a reduced risk of residues in food and dispersal of chemical substances in the environment.
Cereals and other grain products as well as compound products containing cereals and other grains to at least 20% of the individual product. Requirements for palm oil apply in all products where palm oil is included.
Examples of products to which the criteria apply:
- Flakes
- Flour
- Grains
- Muesli
- Pasta
- Couscous
- Bulgur
- Wheat berries
- Durum wheat
- Buckwheat