Most EU rejections of Indian peanuts are for aflatoxin above the EU maximum level. Smaller numbers are for pesticide residues, mould, insect damage, Salmonella, and missing or incorrect documents.
The EU publishes border rejections and alerts through RASFF, its Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. Searching it for groundnuts from India shows the pattern clearly, and you can do this yourself before choosing a supplier, as explained in what the RASFF is and how to check rejections.
Aflatoxin is the main cause
EU limits for peanuts are very low, especially for kernels sold for direct consumption. A lot that passes a loose test in India can fail an EU official sample because aflatoxin is unevenly spread. The usual root causes are weather stress in the field, slow drying, damp storage, poor sorting and small or badly drawn pre-shipment samples.
A common mistake is to ship kernels intended for direct consumption against the higher limit meant for goods that will be sorted again. The limits and their conditions are set out in aflatoxin limits for peanuts in the EU, US and Middle East.
Other reasons for rejection
- Pesticide residues above EU MRLs, often from spraying close to harvest or from products not approved in the EU.
- Mould and insect damage, usually from high moisture, long storage or a poor container.
- Salmonella, mainly in blanched or ready-to-eat products handled without enough hygiene control.
- Documents: a missing or wrong health certificate or lab report, or details that do not match the consignment.
- Labelling and marking errors, such as a wrong lot number or no indication that goods need further sorting.
Why controls are tighter for some origins
The EU can raise the frequency of checks on a product from a given country when it sees repeated problems. Indian groundnuts have been placed under increased official controls for aflatoxin at times, with a share of consignments sampled at the border. When this applies, a rejection costs more and a pattern of rejections can tighten checks for every Indian exporter.
The list and the check frequency are reviewed regularly. Ask your importer or customs broker for the current position before you ship.
How to lower your risk
- Buy from a shelling and grading unit with good drying, storage and colour sorting, not from a trader who cannot control the process.
- Write the correct EU limit and the sampling method into the contract.
- Have the lot sampled during loading and tested at an accredited lab before the container leaves.
- Keep a sealed counter sample of every shipment.
- Ship promptly in a clean, dry container to avoid moisture pickup on the voyage.
- Check the document pack against the shipment before departure, as covered in the document pack your broker will ask for.
How we help
We check each processor's record and process before you buy, then draw and seal samples at loading for NABL lab testing. If a shipment is still questioned at the border, we help you with the counter sample and the claim. To review your peanut supply chain, ask for a free sourcing review.