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Rice

[Germanversion]

Table of contents
General:

Product information
Packaging
Transport

Container transport
Cargo securing

Risk factors and loss prevention:

Temperature

Odor

Ventilation

Mechanical influences

Humidity/Moisture

Contamination

Biotic activity

Toxicity / Hazards to health

Gases

Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion

Shrinkage/Shortage

Insect infestation / Diseases

Product information
Product name
German

Reis

English

Rice

French

Riz

Spanish

Arroz

Scientific

Oryza sativa

CN/HSnumber*

1006 ff.

(*EUCombinedNomenclature/HarmonizedSystem)

Product description
Ricebelongstothesweetgrassfamily(Gramineae)andisatypeofcerealoriginallyfromEastAsia,
theterm"cereals"coveringthegrainfruitsofcultivatedgrasses(spikesorearsinthecaseofwheat,
rye,barleyandcorn;paniclesinthecaseofoatsandrice.
Riceisanannualpaniclegrasswithuniflorousspikeletsandisoneoftheoldestplantscultivatedby
humans(e.g.for5000yearsinIndia).Itisa"glumed"typeofcereal,whichmeansthattheglumes
(dry-skinnedleavesintheflowerareaofthegrasses)remainstucktothegrain,asisthecasewith
mosttypesofbarleyandoatsandwithmillet.Inaddition,thericegrainisalsosurroundedbyafine,
silver-graytoreddish-yelloworredskin,the"silverskin",overwhichtheglumesarelocated.
Riceiscultivatedunderwaterinfloodedfields(requiringartificialirrigation,highyield)andasupland
rice(wherethelandismerelywatered).
Dependingontheshapeandsizeofthegrain,riceissubdividedintothreebasicgrades:shortgrain,
mediumgrainandlonggrain.Thesearefurthersubdivided,dependingonthedegreeofpreparation,
into:unpreparedrice,whiterice,brokenriceandparboiledrice.
Thefollowingricevarietiesareofsignificancewithregardtoshipmentandtransport:

Figure1
Paddyrice:unpreparedricewhichisstillfirmlyenclosedinitsglumes.

Brownrice:ricewhichhashaditsglumesremovedbutisotherwiseunprepared.Theglumes
areremovedintheexportingcountriesbyhulling.Themajorityofthesilverskinisstill
attachedtothehulledricegrain.Brownriceisshippedonlyinsmallbatches.
Whiteorpolishedrice:preparedricewhichhashadthesilverskinandseedcoatbeneathit
removedbypolishing.Anunbalanceddietconsistingofhulledandpolishedrice,fromwhich
theprotein-andvitamin-richsilverskinenclosingthegrainshasbeenremovedmayleadto
beriberi(VitaminB1deficiency).

Cargorice:ricewhichisprovidedformaritimetransportandconsistsof80%whitericeand
20%paddyrice.Duetothismixingratio,thericeremainsdrierandharderduringmaritime
transport,becausethecoarse-hulledpaddygrainscauselooseningandthusbetterairingof
thericebatches.Forthisreason,cargoriceistheleastsusceptibletodamage.
Grainsize:diameter2-3mm
Oilcontent:0.5-1%

Quality / Duration of storage

Onacceptanceofaconsignmentofriceintheformofgeneralcargo,itshouldbeensuredthatthe
bagsareclean,dryandwellstitched,tokeeptheriskoflossaslowaspossiblerightfromthestart.
Thecontentofbrokengrainsmayamounttofrom15%(variety1)to>40%(brokenrice).

Riceisdriedpriortotransport.Atawatercontentof13%,ricehasastoragelifeofapprox.12
months.However,ifthewatercontentincreases(>16%),thericecannotbekeptformorethan20
days.

Intended use
Onaninternationalscale,riceisthemostimportantcerealandservesasastaplefood.Ricehasits
glumesremovedinhullingmillsandservestoproduceflouraswellasarrackandsake.

Figures
(ClickontheindividualFigurestoenlargethem.)

Figure2

Figure3

Figure4

Countries of origin
ThisTableshowsonlyaselectionofthemostimportantcountriesoforiginandshouldnotbethought
ofasexhaustive.
Europe

France,Italy,Hungary

Africa

Egypt

Asia

Burma,China,Pakistan,Thailand,India;EastandSouth-EastAsiabeingthemain
areasofcultivation.

America

USA,Argentina,Uruguay

Australia

Australia

Backtobeginning

Packaging
Riceistransportedasbulkcargoorasbreak-bulkcargoinbags(e.g.100kgbagsofwovenjute
fabric).Riceisalsopackagedinsmaller500gplasticbagsandtransportedincartons.Thepackaging
sizeshouldbesoselectedthatthedimensionsoftheindividualareamodulesorareamodulemultiples
areconformedtotheconventionalpalletsizes(800x1200mmand1000x1200mm)andcargounits
maythusbeproduced.

Figure5

Figure6

Markingofpackages

Keepdry

Usenohooks

Keepaway
fromheat
(solarradiation)

Backtobeginning

Transport
Symbols

Generalcargo

Bulkcargo

Means of transport
Ship,railroad,truck

Container transport
Bulkcontainers,subjecttoappropriatepredryingoftheproducttoapprox.12-13%,orpassively
ventilatedcontainers(coffeecontainers).Therearereservationsaboutbothtypesofcontainerdueto
theincreasedriskofwaterormolddamage.

Cargo handling
Indampweather(rain,snow),thecargomustbeprotectedfrommoisture,sinceitmayleadtomold,
spoilageandself-heatingasaresultofincreasedrespiratoryactivity.
Onacceptanceofaconsignmentofriceinbulk,severedustformationoccurs.Thus,forinstance,itis
importantnottoloadriceand,forexample,expellerinbulkthroughtwoadjacenthatchesatonce.
Hooksmustnotbeusedinhandlingbaggedgoodsastheysubjectthecargotopointloads,so
damagingthebags.Duetotheirshape,plateorbaghooksapplyanarealoadandarethusmore
suitableforhandlingbags.

Stowage factor
1.359m /t(bulkcargo)[1]
3

1.5-1.6m /t(jutefabricbags,100kg)[1]
3

1.81-1.95m /t(paddyrice,bagsorbulk)[11]
3

1.34-1.39m /t(cargorice,bagsorbulk)[11]
3

1.39-1.45m /t(whiterice,bagsorbulk)[11]
3

1.48-1.56m /t(brokenrice,bagsorbulk)[11]
3

1.84-2.12m /t(rice,unhulled)[14]
3

1.44-1.56m /t(rice,hulled)[14]
3

1.39-1.56m /t(rice,polished)[14]
3

Grain size
Diameter2-3mm

Stowage space requirements

Cool,dry,goodventilation

Segregation
Tarpaulins,matting,jutecoverings,fiberrope,thinfibernets.Donotuseplasticfilms,astheyprevent
airing.Usegunnyclothinsteadofplasticfilms.

Cargo securing
Baggedcargomustbestowedandsecuredinthemeansoftransportinsuchamannerthatitcannot
sliporshiftduringtransport.Iflossofvolumeanddegradationofqualityaretobeavoided,the
packagesmustnotbedamagedbyotherarticlesoritemsofcargo.
Iftheproductistransportedincartonsonpallets,byselectingthecorrectpackagingsizeorcargounit
(areamoduleorareamodulemultiple),holdscanbetightlyloaded(withoutspaces).
Inthecaseofmaritimetransport,theIMO(InternationalMaritimeOrganization)"CodeforSafe
CarriageofGraininBulk"mustbecompliedwith.
Backtobeginning

Risk factors and loss prevention

RF Temperature
Ricerequiresparticulartemperature,humidity/moistureandventilationconditions(SCVII)(storage
climateconditions).
Favorabletraveltemperaturerange:5-25C[1]
Theoptimumtemperatureforthedevelopmentofmoldsisbetween20and30C.Traveltemperatures
of>25Cincreasemetabolicprocessesandthusself-heatingandagglomeration(stickingtogether).
Backtobeginning

RF Humidity/Moisture
Ricerequiresparticulartemperature,humidity/moistureandventilationconditions(SCVII)(storage
climateconditions).
Designation

Humidity/water content

Source

Relativehumidity
Watercontent

70%

[1]

13-14%

[1]

14-15%

[2]

70%

[1]

Maximumequilibriummoisturecontent

Itssensitivitytomoisturemakesriceaproductwhichisparticularlyatriskduringtransport.For
instance,freshlyharvestedricehasawatercontentof>15%andisonlystorableatawatercontent
of13-14%.Thesorptionisotherm(seeFigure10)forlonggrainwhitericewithoutsilverskin,for
example,showsthatthemoldgrowththresholdof75%equilibriummoisturecontentisreachedfor
thistypeofriceatawatercontentof15%.Forunpreparedrice(seeFigure11)themoldgrowth
thresholdisreachedatawatercontentofonly13%.

Figure7

Figure8

Figure9

Figure10

Figure11

Wheretheintrinsicmoisturecontentoftheproductistoohigh,thereisariskofmold,mustinessand
fermentation,aswellasself-heatingandagglomeration.
Inprinciple,acertificateisprovidedforricecargoesattheportofloadinginrelationtotheintrinsic
moisturecontentascertainedandstowage.Thiscertificatemustindicatetheaveragemoisturecontent
ascertained.Inaddition,moisturemeasurementsmustbemadeandrecordedonboardthe
transportingocean-goingvesselitself.However,itmustbeborneinmindthatonlytestscarriedoutby
anindependentsurveyorwillberecognizedasofevidentialvalueinanysubsequentlawsuit.
Dull-lookingricebatchesindicateexcessivedryingorself-heating.
Excessivelydampricereleasesmoistureconstantlyduringtransport,andwetordampbagsofrice
mustberejecteduponacceptanceofaconsignment.Itisalsoimportanttoclosehatchesingoodtime
ifitrainsduringloading,topreventtheproductfrombecomingdamp.Whereseawaterdamageis
suspected,e.g.duetodamagedhatchcovergaskets,aseawatertestshouldbecarriedoutusingthe
silvernitratemethod.
Riceisamongthosegoodswhichfrequentlyarriveonboardnotdryforshipment,whichcanthen
resultinconsiderablelosses.Itmustalsobenotedonloadingthathygroscopicgoodscanreabsorb
moistureduringstorageinmoist,tropicalair.Inareaswithdryandrainyseasons,theshipment
deadlinemustbenoted.Forexample,iftheoutwardtransportofthecereal,whichusuallytakesplace
inthedryseason,isdelayedintotherainyseason,thewatercontentonloadingmustbeparticularly
carefullymonitoredassuchlateloadinghasbeenthecauseofaseriesoflosses.
Duetoitsmoisturecontent,ricehasatendencytoranciditythroughtheformationoffreefattyacids
despiteitslowfatcontent(approx.1%).Thisriskisparticularlygreatinthecaseofbrownriceowing
totheoil-containingsilverskin,whichisstillattachedtothericegrain.
Thereisalsoariskofprematuregerminationofthericegrainsduetotheeffectofheatandmoisture.
Backtobeginning

RF Ventilation
Ricerequiresparticulartemperature,humidity/moistureandventilationconditions(SCVII)(storage
climateconditions).

Recommendedventilationconditions:
Loadingasbulkcargo:surfaceventilation

Loadingasgeneralcargo:airexchangerate15-25changes/hour.Goodsurfaceventilation
andairingarenecessary.
Theriskinparticularofwatervaporevolutioninthecaseofricewhichwasexcessivelydampon
loadingandtheneedtoavoidself-heatingoftheproductmakeitessentialtoventilatericesensibly
andthoroughly.Tothisend,ventilationchannelsshouldbeprovided.Duetoitsgreatersensitivity,
brownricerequiresspecialcare,someaningthatitshould,wherepossible,beaccommodatedonlyin
'tweendecks,toallowbetterairing,ifnecessarythroughopeningofthehatches.
Ricereleaseswatervaporconstantly,whichneedstobedissipatedbyventilation.However,cautionis
advisableonvoyagesfromhottocoldregions(e.g.ArgentinatoEurope):
Ricewhichisnotdryforshipmenthasaparticulartendencytoself-heatingandtheflowofheatfrom
thecargocounteractsexternalcooling,soresultingintheformationofsteeptemperaturegradientsin
thesuperficiallayersofthecargo.Atthesametime,watervaporflowsfromtheinsideofthecargoto
thesurface.Inthecaseofsimultaneouscoolingofthesurfacebyventilation,therelativehumidity
increasesinthesuperficiallayersofthecargo.Ifdryfreshairisusedforventilation,adrysurface
layerseveralcentimetersthickisobtained,whichcreatestheimpressionthatthecargoisfreeofall
defects.Beneaththisisthenadampintermediatelayeroflowergradecerealwhichisstartingto
decompose,beingstucktogetherandswollen.Suchdampintermediatelayersareobservedrelatively
frequently.
Inordertoavoidcargodamagecausedbysuchmoistintermediatelayers,thefreshairsupplymust
berestrictedwhenthereisanexcessivetemperaturedifferentialbetweenthecargoandtheexternal
temperature.
Whentheweatherallows,thehatchesshouldbeopenedduringthevoyage,toallowappropriate
surfacecooling.Thistypeofventilationshouldalsobecarriedoutintheroadsandinportuntil
completionofunloading.
Damagetoonlyaproportionofacargoofrice,e.g.duetodrippingcargosweat,isasaruleindicative
ofthedamagedproportionhavingbeenstoredinadeadairzone,whereitwasinadequately
ventilated.
Backtobeginning

RF Biotic activity
Ricedisplays2ndorderbioticactivity.
Riceisalivingorganinwhichrespirationprocessespredominate,becauseitssupplyofnewnutrients
hasbeencutoffbyseparationfromtheparentplant.
Aswithothertypesofcereals,whentransportingriceaccountmustbetakenofthefactthatitisa
livingvegetableproductwhichshouldbestoredinsuchamannerthatontheonehanditretainsits
vitalitywhile,ontheotherhand,itsvitalfunctionsandmetabolicprocessesarerestrictedinsucha
mannerthatlossesofweightandutilityvaluedonotoccur.
Backtobeginning

RF Gases
Inrice,metabolicprocessescontinueevenafterharvesting.Thericegrainsabsorboxygenandexcrete
carbondioxide(CO2)(TLV:0.49vol.%).

Backtobeginning

RF Self-heating / Spontaneous combustion

Oilcontent:0.5-1.0%
Atanexcessivelyhighwatercontentinparticular,ricehasatendencytowardsself-heating.Water
contentsof>15%andrelativehumiditiesof>75%resultinself-heatingofthecargodueto
hydrolytic/enzymaticfatcleavage.
Theriskofself-heatingiselevatedinthecaseofbrownrice,becausetheoil-containingsilverskin
promotesself-heating.Forthesamereason,theriskofranciditycausedbytheformationoffreefatty
acidsisparticularlygreatinthecaseofbrownrice.
Theheatingdamagethusarisingcausesanincreasedriskofgermination(prematuresprouting)and
considerabledepreciationoftheproduct.
Backtobeginning

RF Odor
Active
behavior

Wetrice,particularlyricedamagedbyseawater,spreadsapenetratingodor,
whichisabsorbedbytheadjacentriceandmaysoonpenetratethroughthe
entirehold.

Passive
behavior

Riceishighlyodor-sensitive.Brownriceisparticularlysensitivetothe
absorptionofforeignodors.InthecaseofshipmentsfromAustralia,rice
mustnotbestowednearfleecesandwool,asodortaintingbythefattyodor
istobeexpected.

Backtobeginning

RF Contamination
Active
behavior

Onacceptanceofaconsignmentofriceinbulk,severedustformationoccurs.

Passive
behavior

Riceissensitivetocontaminationbydust,dirt,fatsandoils.

Especiallyafterthepreviouscarriageofcontaminating,odor-taintingorpestinfestedcargoes,fitnessforloadingmustbecarefullyreestablishedby
cleaning,possiblydisinfection,deodorizationorventilation.Aninspection
certificateconfirmingfitnessforloadingshouldbeprovided.

Damageisoftencausedbyaccompanyingcargoesandbycontaminationwith
foreignbodies,andgenerallyhasitsoriginininadequatesegregationofthe
individualconsignments.Costlyprocessinginthericemillisrequiredfor
subsequent,albeitincomplete,removalofforeignbodies.

Backtobeginning

RF Mechanical influences

Pointloadsappliedforexamplebyhooksmayresultindamage(tears)tothebagsandthustolosses
ofvolume.Plateorbaghooks,which,duetotheirshape,distributetheloadandreducetheriskof
damage,shouldthusbeused.
Extendedstorageinthecountryofproductionmayresultinagglomerationoftheproductunderstack
pressure.
Backtobeginning

RF Toxicity / Hazards to health

EvolutionofCO2duetorespiration,especiallywithexcessivelydampgoods(TLV:0.49vol.%).Take
carewhenenteringthehold,asoxygenmaybeinshortsupply.Usegasdetector.
Backtobeginning

RF Shrinkage/Shortage
Weightloss,particularlyinthecaseoffreshlyharvestedproduct,causedbythereleaseofwatervapor
amountsto1-3%[50].Lossofvolumemayalsoariseduetoadhesionofricegrainstotheship's
sidesandduetoexposuretowind(dustbeingblownaway).
Wherericeistransportedasbaggedcargo,weightlossmaybecausedbytearsinthebags,while,
whereitisloadedasbulkcargo,weightlossmayadditionallybecausedbyshortcomingsinweighing
methodsortechnology.
Backtobeginning

RF Insect infestation / Diseases

Duringloading,attentionmustbepaidtoinspectingthecargoforgranaryandriceweevils
(recognizablefromfourredspotsontheirwingcases),flourbeetles,drugstorebeetlesandspider
beetles,aswellasfordriedfruitandmealmoths,ratsandmice.
Thechewingdamagecausedbythecerealpestsbringsaboutincreasedrespirationinthecereal(hot
spots)andthis,associatedwiththemetabolicactivityofthepeststhemselves,promotesevolutionof
heatandmoisture,whichinturnprovidefavorablelivingconditionsformoldsandsubsequently,at
veryhighmoisturelevels,forbacterialgrowth.
Inaddition,astatementshouldberequiredfromtheconsignoraboutanyinsecticidesused.Asarule,
riceisfumigatedwithmethylbromide,butitshouldbenotedthatthesuccessoffumigationdepends
onwhetherthetemperatureandfumigationtimeareadaptedtothedevelopmentcycleoftheinsector
insects.
Riceisparticularlylikelytobeinfestedwithstoragepestsifithasbeenstoredformorethantwo
months.
Ahighproportionofbrokengrainsencouragesthedevelopmentofmicroorganisms,mitesandbeetles.
Acertificateoforiginandhealthshouldberequiredfromtheconsignor.
Backtobeginning

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