Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDry (Flour/Powder)
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (Milling / Root-Tuber Derivative)
Market
Cassava flour in Colombia is supported by a large domestic cassava (yuca) production base, with production concentrated in Caribbean departments (Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre and Magdalena) and the Eastern Plains (Meta and Casanare). Colombia’s agricultural authority ICA describes the cassava value chain as split between fresh human consumption and agroindustrial uses, including processing into starches and flours. For market access, INVIMA’s sanitary framework differentiates foods sold directly to consumers (requiring sanitary registration/permit/notification depending on risk) from certain raw materials used exclusively by industry/gastronomy (which can be exempt, but must be declared as such). In cross-border specifications, Codex STAN 176-1989 provides an international reference point for edible cassava flour quality and safety expectations (e.g., moisture limit).
Market RoleDomestic producer and consumer market with agroindustrial processing (starches and flours)
Domestic RoleCassava is an important staple crop; a significant share is processed by agroindustry into starches, flours and other bioproducts alongside fresh consumption
Specification
Physical Attributes- Free from abnormal flavours and odours
- Free from living insects
- Free from filth (including dead insects) at levels that could pose a health hazard
Compositional Metrics- Moisture content: 13% m/m maximum (Codex STAN 176-1989)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Cassava roots (yuca) procurement → washing/peeling → chipping or grating to chips/paste → drying → milling/grinding → sifting to reduce fibre → packaging → distribution
Shelf Life- Moisture control aligned to Codex STAN 176-1989 (≤13% m/m) supports storage stability and reduces quality losses during storage/transport
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighMarket entry can be blocked or delayed if cassava flour is shipped without the correct INVIMA pathway: foods sold directly to consumers require the appropriate INVIMA sanitary authorization (notificación/permiso/registro) by risk level, while certain raw materials for exclusive industrial/gastronomy use may be exempt only if that exclusive use is correctly declared and supported. Misclassification or missing INVIMA-related documentation can trigger holds, rejection, or costly relabel/rework at entry.Before contracting, determine whether the shipment will be commercialized to consumers or used exclusively by industry/gastronomy; align the dossier accordingly (NSA/PSA/RSA vs exemption-with-declared-use), and run a pre-shipment document check against INVIMA requirements (including manufacturer authorization where applicable).
Phytosanitary MediumDomestic cassava supply for milling can be disrupted by prioritized cassava pests and diseases monitored by ICA, and ICA notes that dependence on uncertified vegetative seed can accelerate disease/pest dissemination, affecting yield and root availability for processing.Source from suppliers applying ICA-aligned phytosanitary management; request evidence of planting-material quality controls and field monitoring practices, and diversify sourcing across multiple producing departments.
Food Safety MediumIf cassava flour is produced from bitter cassava, inadequate detoxification/processing can create a safety risk; Codex STAN 176-1989 explicitly references detoxification (e.g., soaking before drying) as part of the edible cassava flour preparation pathway when bitter cassava is used.Require a documented process aligned to Codex STAN 176-1989, including validated detoxification controls where relevant, and obtain batch COAs from accredited labs for buyer-critical safety parameters.
Quality MediumExcess moisture and poor storage hygiene can degrade quality and increase pest/filth issues; Codex STAN 176-1989 sets a moisture maximum (13% m/m) and emphasizes absence of insects and abnormal odours as suitability factors.Specify maximum moisture at receipt (≤13% m/m), use moisture-barrier packaging where needed, and implement warehouse pest-control and humidity monitoring with batch-level hold/release testing.
Sustainability- Biosecurity and use of certified planting material: ICA highlights that reliance on uncertified vegetative planting material can facilitate pest/disease spread in cassava systems
- Agroindustrial upgrading: ICA describes cassava’s agroindustrial processing into starches, flours and bioproducts (including biodegradable packaging) as part of the value-chain pathway
Labor & Social- Smallholder/family-farm livelihoods are central: ICA characterizes cassava and root/tuber systems as embedded in the rural economy and estimates the cassava chain links directly to a large number of producer families
- Contract-farming style arrangements exist in industrial cassava initiatives reported in Colombia’s agriculture information channels (e.g., agriculture-by-contract approaches in some industrial cassava programs)
FAQ
Does cassava flour need an INVIMA sanitary authorization to be sold in Colombia?If cassava flour is commercialized directly to consumers, INVIMA indicates it must have the appropriate sanitary authorization (notificación, permiso, or registro) depending on the product’s public-health risk classification. If it is imported or produced exclusively for use by industry and the gastronomy sector as an input, Resolution 2674 of 2013 (as modified) provides an exemption pathway, but the exclusive-use condition must be declared and supported.
Where is cassava (yuca) production concentrated in Colombia for potential cassava-flour supply?ICA reports that cassava is grown across much of Colombia, but production is concentrated in Caribbean departments (Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre and Magdalena) and the Eastern Plains (Meta and Casanare).
What international specification reference can buyers use for edible cassava flour quality parameters?Codex STAN 176-1989 is an international standard for edible cassava flour; it includes a moisture-content maximum of 13% m/m and suitability expectations such as being free from abnormal odours and living insects.
What are key phytosanitary issues that could disrupt cassava-based processing supply in Colombia?ICA’s cassava phytosanitary materials highlight multiple prioritized pests and diseases for monitoring and control and note that reliance on uncertified vegetative seed can facilitate pest/disease spread, which can reduce productivity and disrupt root availability for downstream processing such as flour milling.