Requisitos de conformidad con el sello de calidad INEN para el cacao en grano de exportación

Abstract

The objective of this case study is to investigate the conformity requirements of the INEN quality seal for cocoa beans from the fruit of the Theobroma cacao L. tree based on the Ecuadorian Technical Standard NTE-INEN 176, which in 2021 managed to certify about 331,028.57 tons of cocoa beans, registering 81% for the fine aroma variety cocoa and 19% for CCN-51 cocoa exported to different world destinations. This standard details the physical and chemical quality requirements that cocoa beans must meet according to their classification, performing external analysis of the bean where the sieving test is performed, in addition to accounting for defective beans, material related to the beans and foreign material. Followed by the internal analysis of the grain where its moisture content must not exceed 7%, in addition to the limits of percentage of fermented grains, violet, slaty and moldy grains.