ISO 9116:2004

Overview

ISO 9116:2004 - Green coffee: Guidelines on methods of specification provides guidance for describing green coffee (as defined in ISO 3509) for sale and purchase in the international coffee trade. The standard is built on commonly used contract terms and recommends procedures for sampling, packing, marking, storage and shipping to ensure consistent, transparent commercial specifications and handling of green coffee lots and consignments.

Key Topics and Requirements

The standard specifies the types of information and technical parameters that should accompany a lot or consignment:

• Identification and origin
  • Country of origin; region, state or plantation (where applicable); year of harvest or age.
• Weight and packing
  • Number of bags, average net weight per bag or net weight of the lot; guidance on suitable packing materials and bulk containers.
• Physical and quality parameters
  • Loss in mass on drying or moisture content (ISO 6673, ISO 1446)
  • Total defects and foreign matter (ISO 4149)
  • Proportion of insect-damaged beans (ISO 6667)
  • Bulk (free-flow) density (ISO 6669)
  • Bean size (ISO 4150)
  • Type of green coffee (per ISO 3509)
• Sampling and handling
  • Sampling for bags should follow ISO 4072; storage, handling and transport should follow ISO 8455.
• Marking
  • Bags and bulk containers must be legibly and indelibly marked with at least: country of origin, net mass, and the name “green coffee”.
• Contaminants
  • Annex A references pesticide residues and contaminants and advises compliance with Codex Alimentarius or applicable national regulations and contractual limits.

Applications and Who Uses It

ISO 9116:2004 is practical for stakeholders across the coffee supply chain who need standardized specifications and handling practices:

• Coffee exporters and importers preparing commercial contracts
• Commodity traders and brokers specifying lot quality
• Quality assurance and laboratory personnel performing acceptance testing
• Roasters and processors assessing incoming green coffee
• Inspectors, certifiers and customs authorities verifying shipment documentation and compliance

Benefits include clearer contract terms, consistent sampling and reporting, reduced disputes, and improved traceability and quality control in green coffee trade.

Related Standards

Key referenced standards include:

• ISO 3509 (vocabulary / green coffee definition)
• ISO 1446, ISO 6673 (moisture/water content)
• ISO 4149 (visual/olfactory examination, defects)
• ISO 4150 (size analysis)
• ISO 6667 (insect-damaged beans)
• ISO 6669 (bulk density)
• ISO 4072 (sampling) and ISO 8455 (storage and transport)

Keywords: ISO 9116:2004, green coffee specification, sampling, packing, marking, storage, coffee trade, moisture content, bulk density.