How is seed size measured for black-eyed beans into the UK?

Seed size is quoted as 'count per 100 grams'. A lower count indicates a larger seed. High-end UK retail packers and canners prefer a 460 to 480 count per 100 g (approximately 0.21 g per bean), whereas standard ethnic wholesale distributors take the 480 to 520 count export run.

What pesticide standards apply to beans entering the UK?

Under UK post-Brexit food safety law, imported pulses must comply with UK statutory Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). For pesticides without a specific Codex or UK tolerance, the limit of determination defaults to 0.01 mg/kg. An accredited multi-residue screening certificate must be issued at origin prior to container sealing.

What cleaning standard does CBIL guarantee for UK bean buyers?

All export lots are processed across gravity tables and double-pass optical Sortex color sorters. This guarantees maximum 0.5% foreign matter, maximum 1.0% weevilled or insect-damaged seed, maximum 1.0% splits, and maximum 14.0% moisture at loading.

How are shipments arranged from Myanmar given banking restrictions?

Myanmar is a traditional leading producer of cowpeas. CBIL ensures that Myanmar shipments execute exclusively through non-sanctioned commercial banks and licensed export houses in Yangon with pre-cleared payment routing and third-party surveyor verification.

Europe · United Kingdom

Black-Eyed Beans Suppliers CFR UK (Felixstowe & London Gateway)

Sortex-cleaned, graded cowpeas in 25 kg and 50 kg bags for UK food processors, canners and ethnic wholesale distributors

The United Kingdom is one of Europe's largest import markets for cowpeas and black-eyed beans (HS 0713.35), receiving over 3,300 tonnes annually. Demand is split between industrial canning plants supplying baked and tinned bean selections to supermarkets, and dry packaging mills supplying South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern wholesale networks across London, Birmingham and Manchester. Packers specify whole cream-coloured seeds with a sharp, defined black eye, requiring strict cleaning standards to eliminate stones, stained beans and foreign agricultural admixture.

Containerized cargoes arrive at the container ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton, primarily in 20-foot shipping containers holding 23 to 24 metric tonnes packed in 25 kg or 50 kg multi-ply paper or polypropylene bags. Under UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulations, imported pulses must be accompanied by an official phytosanitary certificate and full pesticide residue analysis complying with UK Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs, default 0.01 mg/kg for unregistered actives). CBIL arranges container shipments from verified exporters in Myanmar, Peru (Piura Castilla) and Madagascar, guaranteeing independent SGS or Intertek inspection of count per 100g, moisture (max 14.0%), and Sortex purity (foreign matter max 0.5%, damaged max 1.0%).

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The market in figures

UK annual imports: Over 3,300 tonnes under HS 0713.35
Primary entry ports: Port of Felixstowe · London Gateway · Port of Southampton
Export origins: Myanmar (Yangon) · Peru (Piura) · Madagascar (Boeny) · Brazil · Argentina
Key market grades: Large (460–480 count/100g) · Export run (480–520 count/100g) · Double Sortex
Packaging format: 25 kg / 50 kg PP bags, approx. 24 MT per 20ft dry container
Import requirements: Phytosanitary certificate · UK MRL lab analysis · SGS inspection

Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.

Questions buyers ask

How is seed size measured for black-eyed beans into the UK?: Seed size is quoted as 'count per 100 grams'. A lower count indicates a larger seed. High-end UK retail packers and canners prefer a 460 to 480 count per 100 g (approximately 0.21 g per bean), whereas standard ethnic wholesale distributors take the 480 to 520 count export run.
What pesticide standards apply to beans entering the UK?: Under UK post-Brexit food safety law, imported pulses must comply with UK statutory Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). For pesticides without a specific Codex or UK tolerance, the limit of determination defaults to 0.01 mg/kg. An accredited multi-residue screening certificate must be issued at origin prior to container sealing.
What cleaning standard does CBIL guarantee for UK bean buyers?: All export lots are processed across gravity tables and double-pass optical Sortex color sorters. This guarantees maximum 0.5% foreign matter, maximum 1.0% weevilled or insect-damaged seed, maximum 1.0% splits, and maximum 14.0% moisture at loading.
How are shipments arranged from Myanmar given banking restrictions?: Myanmar is a traditional leading producer of cowpeas. CBIL ensures that Myanmar shipments execute exclusively through non-sanctioned commercial banks and licensed export houses in Yangon with pre-cleared payment routing and third-party surveyor verification.