Cured-vanilla trade begins with species, trade name, bean style and analytical evidence—not a generic vanilla label. Codex CXS 367-2026 covers cured beans from Vanilla pompona, Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla odorata, Vanilla x tahitensis and Vanilla cribbiana for direct human consumption, food processing or repackaging; it excludes product intended for industrial processing. The standard distinguishes whole beans, naturally split beans, cut beans, pulp and seeds or vanilla-caviar, and ground or powdered product, with species- and style-specific moisture and vanillin requirements. A comparable physical offer identifies scientific species and trade name, whole, split, cut, caviar or ground style, class or grade for planifolia, length or size basis, colour and sensory condition, moisture, vanillin on a wet-weight basis, extraneous matter and live-insect findings, microbiological, contaminant, mycotoxin and pesticide-residue evidence, country and region of origin and harvest, harvest, curing, grading and packing dates, lot, package and net weight, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, storage controls and information vintage.
The figures below are current requirements from the FAO/WHO Codex Standard for Spices Derived from Dried or Dehydrated Fruits and Berries — Requirements for Vanilla, CXS 367-2026. The standard defines cured-bean species, styles, Planifolia classes, chemistry, physical defects and labeling boundaries; it does not establish current lot availability, certify a shipment or provide a live delivered vanilla price.
Planifolia Extra whole-bean moisture minimum
35
percent by mass · CXS 367-2026
Planifolia Extra whole-bean moisture maximum
38
percent by mass · CXS 367-2026
Planifolia Extra whole-bean vanillin minimum
1.8
grams per 100 grams on wet-weight basis · CXS 367-2026
Planifolia Class III whole-bean vanillin minimum
1.2
grams per 100 grams on wet-weight basis · CXS 367-2026
Whole, split and cut vanilla extraneous matter maximum
1
percent by mass · CXS 367-2026
All listed vanilla styles live-insect maximum
0
live insects by count · CXS 367-2026
Species and trade name define cured vanilla
CXS 367-2026 recognizes five vanilla species with distinct trade identities: Vanilla pompona, Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla odorata, Vanilla x tahitensis and Vanilla cribbiana. Mexican, Bourbon and Planifolia vanilla are trade names associated with V. planifolia in the standard. Because chemical requirements differ materially by species, Atlas retains scientific identity, trade name, origin and curing history before comparing quality, crop, price or trade records.
Whole, split, cut, caviar and ground styles are not interchangeable
The current Codex standard separates complete whole beans, naturally split beans, cut beans of varying lengths, pulp and seeds sold as vanilla-caviar, and ground or powdered beans. Optional sizing may be applied to whole or cut product, and ground particle size is fixed by contract. Atlas keeps style, dimensions or particle basis, species, sample, method and test date attached to every analytical or inspection result.
Planifolia grade changes moisture and vanillin requirements
For Vanilla planifolia whole beans, Extra class requires 35 to 38 percent moisture and at least 1.8 grams vanillin per 100 grams on a wet-weight basis. Class I requires 30 to 36 percent moisture and 1.6 grams vanillin; Class II requires 25 to 30 percent and 1.4 grams; Class III requires 15 to 25 percent and 1.2 grams. Unclassified V. planifolia defaults to Class III minimum requirements. Atlas preserves class, measurement basis, method, laboratory and evidence date rather than treating every planifolia bean as one grade.
A composition standard is not a delivered physical price
Codex requirements establish identity and quality boundaries, not current availability or price. A delivered vanilla price still requires a defined species, trade name, style and grade, current permitted physical observations, origin and harvest, curing and analytical results, lot quantity, package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight, storage controls and information vintage. Atlas keeps any physical-price output unsupported when those fields or usage rights are missing.
Questions procurement teams ask
Does the Codex vanilla standard cover only Vanilla planifolia?
No. CXS 367-2026 also covers Vanilla pompona, Vanilla odorata, Vanilla x tahitensis and Vanilla cribbiana, with species- and style-specific requirements.
What happens when Vanilla planifolia is sold without a declared grade?
The current Codex standard applies the Class or Grade III provisions as the minimum requirements. Atlas still retains the actual moisture, vanillin, style and inspection evidence.
Are vanilla-caviar and ground vanilla the same product style?
No. Vanilla-caviar is pulp and seeds, while ground or powdered vanilla is produced by grinding whole, cut or split beans. Their style and species-specific analytical bases must remain explicit.
Which fields make physical vanilla offers comparable?
Scientific species, trade name, whole, split, cut, caviar or ground style, planifolia class where relevant, size or particle basis, colour and sensory condition, moisture and wet-basis vanillin, extraneous matter, live insects and safety evidence, origin and harvest, curing and packing dates, lot, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.
Sources and provenance
Figures retain their source, period and review date. Corroboration is not promoted to primary evidence.