1. Introduction

During deliberations on the development of Grain Trading Standards (Standards) for the 2025/26 season, industry feedback was received by GTA on the proposed changes for 2025/26 and potential changes for the following 2026/27 season.

The GTA Trading Standards Committee (Committee) has recently met to discuss industry feedback received and the potential Standards for 2026/27.

This document is provided for industry consideration and feedback.

2. Process for Industry Feedback

The Committee is seeking industry comment on the issues outlined in this document and on any other Standards related issue.

Submissions should be received by COB Friday 20 March 2026.

Please lodge your submissions by sending to submissions@graintrade.org.au and title your email – Standards Review 2026/27.

Industry is encouraged to provide supporting evidence for any change proposed in the Standards. Preference is for industry to use the proforma for lodging submissions located on the GTA website.

Unless marked “confidential” and appropriate supporting reasons are provided, all submissions will be placed on the GTA website for industry review.

3. Agreed Changes for Adoption in 2026/27

3.1 Agreed Change 2026/27: Visual Recognition Standards Guide – All Commodities

A revised version of the VRSG was published for the 2025/26 season. At present, the Committee has decided that whilst further major changes are not required, there are several minor amendments that may add value. A decision by the Committee to re-publish a revised version for 2026/27 has not been made yet, and industry will be advised in the second round of industry consultations.

3.2 Agreed Change 2026/27: Definitions, Procedures & References – Cereal & Pulse Commodities

Minor changes to wording in all relevant Standards charts and Standards booklets will occur. These changes will refer to the latest versions of reference material available to assist industry implementation of Standards, including:

• Visual Recognition Standards Guide for 2026/27 – for all cereal and pulse commodities (except mung beans), wording in Standards booklets will reflect the latest version to be used by industry.
• The current links in the Standards booklets to various Australian Government and industry websites and documents for use by industry on a range of issues such as maximum residue limits for chemicals and market quarantine requirements will be updated.
• A document yet to be released entitled “Australian Grains Industry Post Harvest Chemical Usage Recommendations and Outturn Tolerances 2026/27” for all grain commodities.
• Create a definition for “Seed Pods Attachment” in Faba Beans, being “The seeds are attached to the fruit wall in a seed pod by a small stalk, the funiculus, which is generally referred to as a Seed Pod Attachment”. Clarify the tolerance falls within Foreign Material.
• For Barley and Sorghum Standards, clarify, as per wheat, that any grains retained within the backbone/trash should be removed prior to weighing that quality parameter.
• For Barley, clarified in the Procedures that Germinative Capacity and Germinative Energy is to be assessed on the sample as presented, being the “dirty” or un-sieved sample obtained from the load.
• For Wheat, Barley and Oats, clarified in the Procedures that Varietal Purity, when conducted using visual analysis only, should be assessed on the sample as presented, being the “dirty” or un-sieved sample obtained from the load. The minimum sample size is as per the sample tray size used to assess the majority of Defects for each commodity, being Wheat (300 grains), Barley (100 grains) and Oats (200 grains).
• For all pulse commodities (except mung beans), clarified in the definition that Severely Damaged, unless an Objectionable Odour is present and thus a nil tolerance applies, only applies to whole or substantially whole (more than half) grains or kernels. Smaller pieces are included as defects in the Total Defective category.
• For all pulse commodities (except mung beans), clarified in the definition of Poor Colour in the VRSG that this includes “Staining on the Seed Coat”. These words were previously not included in the definition however were depicted by various photographs.

3.3 Agreed Change 2026/27: Severely Damaged / Diseased – All cereal and pulse commodities except Mung Beans

A clarification of the definition of Severely Damaged (SD) will be made for all commodities. In the Visual Recognition Standards Guide (VRSG), Diseased is referenced in all SD definitions by commodity as “Diseased / Other Serious Visual Defects: Refers to those kernels that have become significantly discoloured and/or have a serious visual defect that is not otherwise listed in these Standards”.

Diseased should not be included in SD as generally “Field Fungi” or some other definition covers this category. Including Diseased creates confusion as for all commodities it should be considered to be a defect that may or may not be distinguishable by other definitions included in Defective.

For clarity, the following wording changes will occur, noting the intent of the current Standards will not alter:

• For all Cereal and Pulse Commodities ensure wording refers to “grain”, as some refer to kernel and some grain.
• For Wheat, Barley, Oats, Sorghum and pulses (except mung beans), remove Diseased from the SD definition of Other Serious Visual Defects.
• For Cereal Rye and Triticale alter the current references from Burnt, Heat Damaged, Storage Mould (count per half litre) to SD with the same definitions as per wheat.
• For all pulse commodities (except mung beans), ensure a consistent definition of Diseased is included and Diseased is referenced as a quality parameter in the Total Defective category where present in the applicable Standard. The definition will be “Visible impact on the grain that renders that grain not considered to be of sound quality and of sufficient impact to be categorised as defective. May or may not be distinguishable from other categories of defective grains as defined in this Standard”.

3.4 Agreed Change 2026/27: Varietal Master List – Wheat, Barley, Oats

As in previous seasons, the Varietal Master List for wheat, barley and oats will be reviewed following receipt of relevant information from the industry sector responsible for classification of varieties. All Standards will be revised based on that information and advised to industry when the 2026/27 season Standards are released.

To assist industry to understand the names, varietal codes and classification status of all varieties, GTA will update the list of varieties for all commodities during 2026 and publish the final version for 2026/27 as a separate list when the Standards are released on the GTA website.

See here for the current version of the Standardised Reference Table – Grain Varietal Code Master List

3.5 Agreed Change 2026/27: Procedures – All pulse commodities except Mung Beans

Industry was advised during 2025 that as GTA now develops the Pulse Trading Standards (except mung beans) on behalf of industry, the Committee had commenced revising the Pulse Standards Booklet with the intention of making the Booklet appear as per cereals. While some procedures were revised for the 2025/26 Standards Booklet, several remained to be done, and the Committee will develop further procedures during 2026, where technically feasible and timeframes allow.

3.6 Agreed Change 2026/27: AGP1 – Wheat

The current specification for Falling Number (FN) for AGP1 is a minimum of 200 seconds. A submission was received in 2025 indicating there is no market demand for AGP1 that has a FN of below 250 seconds due to the negative quality of the resulting flour. The Committee noted that in general, where the average FN of wheat stacks are below 250 seconds, the grain goes to the Feed market.

The submission requested the Committee to consider a change in FN for AGP1 from a minimum of 200 seconds to 250 seconds. The main intent of the change was to bring AGP1 into alignment with other off grade milling wheats for FN. The Committee noted that the use of AGP1 had changed over time and AGP1 below 250 seconds was generally significantly discounted. Discussion also arose on the potential to also change other AGP1 parameters to those of AUH2, however the Committee considered there was no need at present.

The Committee agreed to a change in the minimum FN for AGP1 from 200 seconds to 250 seconds, to apply for the 2026/27 season.

3.7 Agreed Change 2026/27: Johnson Grass / Columbus Grass Tolerance – Sorghum

During 2025 industry was advised of various options to alter the tolerance for Johnson Grass / Columbus Grass in sorghum Trading Standards. The driver for a potential change was a submission received from industry seeking a change in the current tolerance as the current tolerance of 50 seeds / 0.5L significantly exceeds the tolerance required by a major market for Australian sorghum. The difference makes sourcing grain and supplying the market difficult.

Submissions on this subject were received calling for the limit for Johnson Grass/Columbus Grass be reduced from 50 to 10 seeds per half litre, with others seeking a reduction for Sorghum No. 1 only.

The Committee noted:

• The obligation of industry to meet importing country requirements.
• Sorghum No.2, with high levels of these weed seeds, may be blended back into No.1 to meet specifications.
• The additional costs and implications on available segregation space of the creation of a new grade, and the creation of a “market grade” which does not exist for any other cereal commodity.
• The ability of growers to control these weeds has significantly increased in recent seasons, assisted by rotation with other crops such as mung beans.
• While there were relatively few issues with these weed seeds overall during the 2024/25 season, in localised regions there may be some grower concerns. That is, in general, these weeds were either very low or for those growers in localised regions – very high.
• Overall, informal data shows weed seed levels are generally well below 10 seeds/0.5L.
• It was noted that if the No.1 grade only was changed, industry may blend back into No.1 the No.2 grade.
• The majority of domestic use of sorghum is for chicken feed.
• Further communication to industry on obligations to meet importing country market requirements will assist compliance where the sorghum Trading Standards differ from importing country requirements.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed to the following for the 2026/27 season:

3.8 Agreed Change 2026/27: Lupins (Albus/Angustifolius) – Wild Radish Pods

Wording in the Farmer Dressed (FD) and Machine Dressed (MD) Standards will alter in relation to Wild Radish.

Current Standards for each commodity respectively refers to “Foreign Material Maximum (% by weight). Unmillable material and all vegetable matter other than Angustifolius/Albus Lupin seed material as outlined below. Includes 2% tolerance for wild radish”.

This 2% tolerance should refer to Wild Radish Pods, noting Wild Radish Seeds are included in Small Foreign Seeds.

The Standards tolerances will not be altered as currently applied, but for greater clarity:

• Change “Wild Radish” to “Wild Radish Pods”.
• Remove the reference to Wild Radish (Pods) in Type 6 as this was a transcription error.

For Albus No.1 FD Receival and FD Export Standards, the same definition for Foreign Material applies, with the tolerance including a maximum of 2% Wild Radish Pods. For the MD Export Standards, the 2% tolerance for Wild Radish Pods was incorrectly listed and will be removed given the Foreign Material tolerance is 0.5% in total, including Wild Radish Pods.

3.9 Agreed Change: Colour References – Broad Beans

In the first call for industry submissions in 2025/26 industry was advised the current Broad Bean Standards have various references to colour, including evergreens, old seasons, dark beans, black beans and beans that are “distinctly off colour from the characteristic colour of the predominating class”. A review of those various references occurred, and the findings of the Committee are outlined below.

In current Standards:

• Defective Maximum (% by weight) includes “Broad Beans not of the specified variety and Broad Beans remaining above the 6mm slot screen that are broken, chipped, damaged, diseased, frost damaged, insect damaged, loose seed coat, sappy, shrivelled, split, sprouted, weather damaged, wrinkled. Includes whole pods containing seed, Kernel Damage, Poor Colour, Fungal Affected (e.g., Ascochyta) lesions and Screenings”.
• Poor Colour is defined as “Seed coat or kernel that is distinctly off colour from the characteristic colour of the predominating class. Including evergreens (Max 2%), old season, dark beans, and black beans”.
• The tolerances that currently apply are as follows:

The Committee discussed this issue and determined:

• If going to the dehulling market, seed coat colour is not that vital providing the kernel is not impacted. But markets in general do not like a darker broad bean (or any dark pulse).
• Old Seasons:
  • Is difficult to interpret visually, usually done by Poor Colour as per the VRSG, being a dark brown seed coat for many pulse commodities.
  • Cannot be measured and in principle should not be included in a Trading Standard.
  • Is generally a contract term or specification of most commodities.
• Dark Beans:
  • As per the VRSG, is generally a dark brown seed coat, as depicted in many pulse commodities.
  • Could be interpreted as any colour over and above good colour, such as dark brown or black.
• Black Beans:
  • Potentially a black seed coat is due to the variety, poor storage conditions leading to the seed coat becoming black or black as a result of severe damage in storage (commonly called Bin Burnt).
  • Poor storage conditions leading to the seed coat being black may only impact on the seed coat and the kernel may be unaffected.
  • Severe damage in storage may impact on the kernel rendering it unfit for human consumption, as depicted by Bin Burnt pictures for faba beans.
  • In the Export Standard there is a 1% tolerance in FD but not in MD. That does not make sense.
• Severely Damaged:
  • Unless the kernel is significantly affected, it may not be able to be distinguished from Black Beans or Dark Beans.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed to the following change for 2026/27:

• Old Seasons – Remove and let it be placed as a contract term if needed.
• Dark – Include in Poor Colour with no separate maximum tolerance.
• Black – As per the faba bean definition, refer to Burnt which is included in Severely Damaged or under Poor Colour.

For clarity, the tolerances that will apply for 2026/27 are as follows:

3.10 Agreed Change 2026/27: Severely Damaged – Various Split Pulse Standards

A submission was received in 2025 from industry seeking to decrease the tolerance for Severely Damaged from 1% by weight to 0.5% by weight for all “No.1” Split Export Standards. The Committee discussed the issue for the following Split product Standards:

• CSP 2.2 Broad Beans – No.1 Split Minimum Export Standard
• CSP 4.2 Chickpeas – Split Chana Dhal Minimum Export Standard
• CSP 5.5 Faba Beans – No.1 Split Minimum Export Standard Machine Dressed
• CSP 7.4.1 Lentils Red – Split No.1 Minimum Export Standard
• CSP 10.4 Peas – Yellow Split Minimum Export Standard Machine Dressed.

The Committee considered the request and agreed to the change for the 2026/27 season on the basis of:

• During the processing and splitting of these commodities, much of the Severely Damaged product is removed from the sample.
• As a value-added product, a 1% level of Severely Damaged grain is generally not desired nor acceptable by customers.
• The current tolerance of 1% by weight is the same as the corresponding Export Standard Farmer Dressed and does not reflect that processing removes many of these Severely Damaged grains.
• A lower tolerance is justified and needed to cater for low levels of these Severely Damaged grains that may remain after processing.

3.11 Agreed Change 2026/27: Total Defective – Kabuli Export Machine Dressed Standards

A submission was received from industry in 2025 seeking to increase the tolerance for Total Defective from 2% by weight to 3% by weight for all No.1 Kabuli Machine Dressed Export Standards. The Committee discussed the issue for the following Standards:

• CSP 4.3.2 Kabuli No.1 Large – Minimum Export Standard Machine Dressed
• CSP 4.3.5 Kabuli No. 1 Small – Minimum Export Standard Machine Dressed.

The Committee considered the request and agreed to the change for the 2026/27 season on the basis of:

• Other commodities have a 3% tolerance in the applicable Machine Dressed Export Standard.
• The current 2% tolerance is difficult to meet particularly when Poor Colour and Severely Damaged are included in the definition.
• The Receival Standard Farmer Dressed is 3% by weight and machine dressing doesn’t significantly decrease, if at all, the level of Poor Colour grains when present and making up the majority of the Total Defective.

3.12 Agreed Change 2026/27: Total Defective – Albus Lupin Minimum Export Machine Dressed Standard

A submission was received from industry seeking to increase the tolerance for Total Defective from 2% by weight to 3% by weight for 8.2.3 No.1 Albus Lupin Minimum Export Machine Dressed Standard.

The Committee considered the request and agreed to the change for the 2026/27 season on the basis of:

• Other commodities have a 3% tolerance in the applicable Machine Dressed Export Standard.
• The current 2% tolerance is difficult to meet particularly when Poor Colour is present.

4. Proposed Changes for 2026/27 – Issues for Industry Feedback

The following issues have been considered for adoption by the Committee in the 2026/27 season Standards. Industry feedback is sought on the proposed changes.

4.1 Varietal Identification – Barley

GTA released Member Update No. 25 of 2025 on 19 November 2025 advising industry of completion of the Committee’s review of the ZoomAgri computer vision and machine learning technology for the recognition of specific barley varieties for compliance with Varietal Purity specifications in Barley Trading Standards.

The Member Update advised industry a decision had been reached to endorse the ZoomAgri “Zoom One” technology as a method for assessment of specific barley varieties only. The timing of when this endorsement commences was conditional on:

• GTA members and industry participants feedback on this decision.
• The preparation of a supporting Technical Guideline Document.
• Changes to the GTA Barley Trading Standards material.

To date, feedback opposing that decision has not been received from industry on that Member Update.

The material referenced in the Barley Trading Standards has been drafted by the Committee and agreed, reflecting the issues outlined in that Member Update. Based on Committee findings, it has been agreed to include reference to the ZoomAgri “Zoom One” and various other changes as summarised below in the Barley Trading Standards for 2026/27:

• Define a Visual Method to assist assessment for Varietal Purity as determining the length of rachilla hairs on a barley variety and/or a declaration of the variety on a Commodity Vendor Declaration without any subsequent analysis using an approved method.
• Alter the Varietal Declaration Procedure:
  • To refer to various methods of assessment.
  • Advising a “DNA” method will over-ride any other method of varietal assessment, as it is the approved reference method.
  • Advising the DNA reference method or other approved method over-rides the Visual Method.
  • Altered wording to reflect the above methods.

GTA intends to develop a list of Approved Reference Equipment on its Trading Standards webpage to advise industry:

• What equipment has been approved by the Committee for use as a Method for specific quality parameter(s) and commodity(s).
• When that equipment was approved.
• The purpose of that equipment.

The Committee has various information requirements of technology providers when submitting their technology for review by the Committee and potential referencing in relevant Trading Standards:

• If approved, the list of equipment on the GTA website will be updated on an annual basis only and follow the timing of release of the Trading Standards (i.e., 1 August each year).
• The list will only include all technology developed in the future that is reviewed by the Committee under the review procedure. It will not include technology that currently exists and is used by industry to assess grain quality as per GTA Trading Standards.

Note that the abovementioned Technical Guideline Document is intended to be finalised and approved by the GTA Board later in 2026 prior to release of the 2026/27 season Standards.

Should industry require a draft copy of the proposed revised changes to the 2026/27 Barley Trading Standards booklet and/or the Technical Guideline Document, please seek a copy from GTA at admin@graintrade.org.au.

5. Issues for Further Ongoing Consideration

5.1 Further Research: Vacuum Sampling of Road Trucks – All Commodities

The project to review the appropriateness of sampling systems on receival from road trucks being undertaken by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) continues. Industry will be advised of findings once the project is completed and results made available and the Committee has discussed those findings and the implications on industry.

6. Issues not Progressed

6.1 No Change: SFW1 – Wheat

Industry was advised in 2020 of a submission requesting a change in the tolerances for a range of defective grain types in the SFW1 grade. That submission in total was not supported and no changes to the tolerances occurred. Since that time, a further submission requesting changes to Field Fungi and Severely Damaged grains only was received.

The submission requested changes as follows:

• Field Fungi increase from 10/half litre to 20/half litre.
• Severely Damaged increase from 1 grain/half litre retained above the 2mm screen to 5 grains/half litre retained above the 2mm screen.

Discussion by the Committee on this topic included:

• The proposed change would be more reflective of tolerances for a stockfeed grade, rather than the current tolerances that reflect a milling wheat grade.
• While some feedback from the stockfeed sector has been received, both supportive and non-supportive, further consideration of impacts is required.
• Responses received have not supported a change to the Field Fungi tolerance. However, there may be some potential for further discussion on the Severely Damaged proposed change.
• Higher levels of Field Fungi and/or Severely Damaged may require mitigation of potential toxins present, using enzymes, mycotoxin binders etc.
• Animal performance may also be impacted.

The Committee has concluded its consultation on the proposed changes with the stockfeed sector. As there was no support for the proposed changes to be made, the existing 2025/26 SFW1 Standards will be retained.

 

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