Interesting Facts

Laboratory analysis is a process that eliminates chemical, biological and physical risks that could endanger consumer health or rice quality. Through a three-stage lab testing process, we provide our customers with 100% certainty.

Where and when exactly do we carry out laboratory tests?

1. Vietnam

• First analysis: At the farm → right after harvest
• Second analysis: At the farm → before truck transport to the port

2. European Union

• Third analysis: At the processor → after import to the EU

Triple chemical testing is not a market standard.

What exactly does each lab test include?

Each lab test focuses on the following key parameters:

1. Chemical contaminants:

1. Pesticide residues

• Chlorpyrifos, triazoles, pyrethroids, organophosphates
• Compared against MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) under EU Regulation 396/2005
• Tests cover 400+ active substances

2. Heavy metals

• Lead (Pb)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Arsenic (As)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Values must comply with EU Regulation 1881/2006

1. Mycotoxins

• Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2)
• Zearalenone
• Ochratoxin A
• Fumonisins
• Patulin
• Tested for rice from tropical areas due to humidity risk

2. Microbiological analysis:

• Salmonella spp.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Molds and yeasts (CFU)
• Total microorganism count
  → crucial for hygiene and food safety

3. Physicochemical properties:

• Moisture (%)
• Ash (mineral residues)
• pH
• Presence of impurities (e.g. stones, fragments, husks)
• Color, breakage, length and width of grains
• Foreign objects (detected optically and physically)

4. Compliance and certification:

• ISO 17025, HACCP, GMP+
• Results are valid for customs and import inspection in the EU

The above ensures that our rice meets all EU legislation and is safe for consumers.

The next step is secondary cleaning.

We perform secondary cleaning after triple testing.

Secondary cleaning is the process of removing any remaining impurities that remain even after basic (primary) cleaning in Vietnam.

Through this process we remove:

• dust and small grain fragments,
• damaged, broken, or discolored grains,
• residual husks and plant debris,
• metallic and inorganic impurities.

Rice that undergoes secondary cleaning meets high European standards for packaged food, has a uniform appearance, longer shelf life, and is ready for further processing.

The next step is fumigation.

We fumigate the rice after secondary cleaning.

Fumigation is the process of eliminating all developmental stages of pests: adults, larvae, pupae, and eggs.

In Vietnam, fumigation typically lasts only 7 days.

This is enough to kill adult pests, but insufficient to destroy eggs. These can survive transport and later develop into larvae, risking product spoilage.

Therefore, after import to the EU, we fumigate each shipment again for at least 14 days.

This extended and closely monitored process allows us to ensure:

• Elimination of all pest stages including eggs,
• Flawless hygiene according to strict EU standards,
• Guaranteed quality and shelf life for storage and distribution.

Repeat fumigation is not a market standard.

But for us, it's another essential step to ensure flawless purity and maximum rice safety.

The next step is packaging.

We package the rice only after careful fumigation.

We import rice from Vietnam in bulk, not pre-packed, so that the third lab test, secondary cleaning, and fumigation can take place immediately after arrival.

We then package the rice directly in the EU.

This ensures that the entire process complies with current EU food and packaging regulations and takes place in a certified facility.

Our packaging meets strict health and ecological sustainability standards.

This approach allows us to maintain full control over quality and safety right up to the final step of the supply chain — with the environment in mind.

Our packaging is fully recyclable.

We package our rice exclusively in fully recyclable packaging.

In doing so, we aim to minimize our environmental footprint and help reduce plastic waste that threatens the environment.

By using eco-friendly packaging, we not only comply with European standards but also demonstrate that food trade can be environmentally responsible.

The next step is storage.

We store the rice after packaging.

Our warehouses comply with the strictest hygiene standards for food handling.

They are managed according to the HACCP system, allowing us to identify and eliminate all risks to food safety.

What is HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a requirement under European legislation, particularly Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on food hygiene.

This ensures not only correct storage conditions but also accurate inventory tracking, batch traceability, and regular safety checks.

All of this forms the foundation for maximum trust in the quality of our rice.

Every batch of rice is fully traceable.

We are able to trace every grain of rice back to the farmer who grew it.

We use a traceability system according to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, enabling full backward and forward traceability of every rice batch.

For each package of rice, we can document:

• Harvest date and location,
• Processing plant and production batch,
• Lab test results,
• Shipping, transport, and EU arrival dates,
• Storage and packaging conditions in the EU.

This gives our customers a product with verifiable origin and a controlled journey throughout the supply chain.

Rice labeled as ST25 must meet strict varietal requirements.

We have every batch of our ST25 rice independently laboratory tested, and we consistently achieve varietal purity above 95%.

We can transparently verify the varietal purity of each ST25 batch through accredited laboratory analyses and official certificates.

This standard ensures the typical flavor and aromatic characteristics that make ST25 one of the highest-quality rice varieties in the world.

Every one of our customers can be confident that they are purchasing authentic ST25 rice with full origin and composition guarantee.

We meet the strictest requirements of EU legislation for food safety and quality.

Throughout the entire supply chain, we apply a quality management system based on Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs and the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).

Every step, from rice selection, laboratory analyses, secondary cleaning, fumigation, and packaging to storage — is subject to clearly defined control points.

This enables us to accurately and promptly identify and eliminate potential risks.

For every 1 kg of our rice sold, we donate CZK 0.10 to support The Ocean Foundation.

The Ocean Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems around the world.

According to studies by Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey & Company, Vietnam is the fourth largest source of ocean plastic pollution globally.

That is why we feel a deep responsibility to help where nature suffers most and to contribute to the restoration of the oceans — which Vietnam both impacts and depends on.

Thank you for helping to protect the blue heart of our planet with every purchase.