Tanzania has established mandatory technical specifications for coffee premix, coffee powder, and coffee concentrate to ensure product consistency and safety across domestic markets.
Tanzania Sets New Rules for Coffee Premix Products
Importers and producers must meet new quality standards for coffee premix, powder, and concentrate.
What changed
New technical specifications for coffee premix, coffee powder, and coffee concentrate are now mandatory.
Standard DEAS 1089:2022 defines the quality and composition requirements for these products.
Specific HS codes targeted, including 210120, 210111, and 210112.
Who it affects
Importers of coffee products must ensure their goods meet the new DEAS 1089:2022 specifications.
Domestic producers of coffee premix, powder, and concentrate must comply with the new standards.
What to do
Verify that your coffee products are classified under HS codes 210120, 210111, or 210112.
Review and adjust production or sourcing to meet the quality and composition rules in DEAS 1089:2022.
Ensure all product documentation for the Tanzanian market reflects compliance with the new standard.
Compliance Requirements for Coffee Premix, Coffee Powder, and Coffee Concentrate in Tanzania
Direct Answer
Tanzania has adopted DEAS 1089:2022, Coffee premix — Specification as a mandatory technical regulation for coffee premix products. This standard, which entered into force on 11 July 20251, establishes comprehensive requirements for ingredients, hygiene, contaminants, packaging, labelling, and testing methods to ensure product consistency and safety in domestic markets. While the standard explicitly addresses coffee premix, it references related standards (e.g., EAS 105 for roasted and ground coffee) that may apply to coffee powder and coffee concentrate by extension2.
Regulation Analysis
1. Applicable Standard and Scope
- Regulation: DEAS 1089:2022, Coffee premix — Specification1, 2.
- Scope: Applies to coffee premix, defined as a "mixture or blend of coffee (instant/roasted and ground coffee) with one or more ingredients" (e.g., creamer, sugar)2.
- Effective Date: 11 July 20251.
- Authority: East African Community (EAC) via the East African Standards Committee (EASC)2.
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Threshold/Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEAS 1089:2022 | Mandatory compliance for coffee premix sold in Tanzania1. | 11 July 2025 | EAC/EASC2 |
| EAS 105 | Roasted/ground coffee used in premix must comply with this standard2. | Not specified | EAC |
| EAS 38 | Labelling requirements for pre-packaged foods (applies to coffee premix)2. | Not specified | EAC |
| Codex Stan 192 | Food additives in premix must comply with Codex limits2. | Not specified | Codex Alimentarius |
2. Key Requirements for Coffee Premix
A. Ingredients
Coffee premix must contain:
- Instant coffee complying with EAS 975 or roasted and ground coffee complying with EAS 1052.
- One or more of the following:
- Creamer (milk/milk substitute) complying with relevant standards.
- Sugar complying with relevant standards.
- Any other permitted food ingredient2.
B. General Requirements
- Must be a fine granulated or powdered homogenous mixture2.
- Must retain the characteristic flavour, colour, and odour of the coffee and other ingredients2.
- Must be free-flowing and free from foreign matter (organic/inorganic material other than coffee premix)2.
C. Specific Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Limit | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture (% by mass, max) | 5% | AOAC 925.45A2 |
| Total ash (% by mass, max) | 15% | AOAC 920.932 |
| Acid-insoluble ash (% m/m, max) | 1% | Not specified |
| Caffeine (wet basis) | ||
| – Non-decaffeinated (min) | 0.8% | AOAC 979.112 |
| – Decaffeinated (max) | 0.3% | AOAC 970.212 |
D. Hygiene and Contaminants
- Microbiological Limits (Table 2 of DEAS 1089:2022)2:
| Microorganism | Maximum Limit | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli | Absent (CFU/g) | ISO 16649-22 |
| Salmonella spp. | Absent (/25g) | ISO 6579-12 |
| Yeasts and moulds | 10³ CFU/g | ISO 21527-22 |
- Pesticide Residues: Must comply with Codex Alimentarius maximum residue limits2.
- Heavy Metals: Must not exceed Codex Alimentarius limits2.
- Mycotoxins: Ochratoxin A must not exceed 10 µg/kg (tested per ISO 15141)2.
E. Food Additives
- Must comply with Codex Stan 192 (General Standard for Food Additives)2.
F. Packaging
- Must use food-grade materials and be sealed to safeguard hygienic, nutritional, and organoleptic properties2.
G. Labelling
- Must comply with EAS 38 (General requirements for labelling pre-packaged foods)2.
- Additional mandatory labelling for coffee premix:
- Product name (e.g., "Coffee Premix")2.
- Other details as required by EAS 38 (e.g., ingredients, net weight, expiry date).
H. Sampling
- Must follow Codex Stan 234 (General Guidelines on Sampling)2.
3. Related Standards for Coffee Powder and Coffee Concentrate
While DEAS 1089:2022 explicitly covers coffee premix, the following standards may apply to coffee powder and coffee concentrate by reference or analogy:
- EAS 105: Roasted and ground coffee beans — Specification2.
- EAS 975: Instant coffee — Specification (referenced for instant coffee in premix)2.
- EAS 38: Labelling of pre-packaged foods (applies to all coffee products)2.
Note: Tanzania has not published standalone standards for coffee powder or coffee concentrate in the provided sources. Compliance may require alignment with EAS 105 or EAS 975 where applicable.
Summary Answer
Tanzania enforces DEAS 1089:2022 as the mandatory technical standard for coffee premix, effective 11 July 20251. The regulation prescribes strict requirements for ingredients (e.g., instant/roasted coffee complying with EAS 105 or EAS 975), hygiene (e.g., absence of Salmonella and E. coli), contaminants (e.g., ochratoxin A ≤ 10 µg/kg), packaging, and labelling (per EAS 38)2. While coffee powder and coffee concentrate are not directly addressed, related standards (EAS 105, EAS 975) may apply by extension. Manufacturers must ensure compliance with Codex Stan 192 for food additives and Codex Alimentarius limits for pesticides/heavy metals2. Sampling must follow Codex Stan 2342. For full legal certainty, stakeholders should consult the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) or the East African Community (EAC).
Sources
- ↩ DEAS 1089:2022, Coffee premix — Specification https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN22/BDI232A3.pdf&Open=True
- ↩ DEAS 1089: 2022, Coffee premix — Specification https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/RWA/22_2512_00_e.pdf