Feed corn from Ukraine — moisture, mycotoxins and documentation

Why moisture is a critical parameter

Corn harvested in Ukraine reaches ports and warehouses at various moisture levels — depending on the harvest year and cultivation region. For feed grain intended for longer storage, it is accepted that a safe moisture level should not exceed 14%. Grain above this threshold creates a risk of mold development and mycotoxin production during transport or storage at the recipient's facility.

When making a purchase, it is worth requiring:

• moisture analysis results from an accredited laboratory (not just a portable device measurement),
• data on storage conditions at the loading location,
• a contractual clause specifying the permissible moisture range with tolerance and a price correction mechanism.

Mycotoxins — which ones and why

The mycotoxins most frequently controlled in feed corn are aflatoxin B1, fumonisins (B1 and B2), zearalenone, deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxin A. Permissible levels for feed are specified in EU regulations — it is worth knowing them before placing an order, as exceeding the thresholds prevents the goods from being placed on the EU market.

In trading practice:

• require a mycotoxin certificate issued by a laboratory accredited in the EU or a recognized Ukrainian institute with results legalized,
• pay attention to the date of sample collection — it should correspond to the shipment batch,
• for large contracts (over several thousand tons) consider having samples taken by an independent surveyor during loading.

Documentation for imports from Ukraine

The basic set of documents for a batch of corn from Ukraine includes:

1. Phytosanitary certificate — issued by the Ukrainian plant protection service, required for import into the EU.
2. Certificate of quality and composition — with parameters: moisture, contamination, damaged grain, protein, starch — issued by an accredited laboratory.
3. Mycotoxin test results — see above.
4. Transport document (bill of lading or CMR/railway waybill) — with shipment data.
5. Commercial invoice and specification — with weight, type and intended use of the goods.
6. Customs declaration — on the importer's side.

When purchasing through an intermediary, verify that the documents are issued for the correct batch and that serial numbers are consistent throughout the set.

Practical tips for the buyer

• Establish in the contract the point and time of collection of reference samples (loading vs. unloading).
• Include an arbitration clause in case of a dispute over quality.
• For corn intended for feeding pigs or poultry, pay special attention to fumonisins — these species are sensitive to them.
• For repeat orders, it is worth building a history of laboratory results from specific regions — quality varies from region to region.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with our product catalog or to submit a price inquiry.