NACE 10.6 – Manufacture of Grain Mill Products and Starches | Public Tenders

NACE 10.6: Grain mills and starch manufacturing in public tenders. CPV codes, contracting authorities and tenders for flour, semolina, starch and milling products.

Definition: NACE 10.6 covers the milling of grain into flour, semolina and meal and the industrial manufacture of starch and starch products from potatoes, maize, wheat or other starch-containing raw materials. It also includes rice husking and the manufacture of gluten, glucose and maltose.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 10.6 cover?

NACE 10.6 (Manufacture of grain mill products, starches and starch products) classifies businesses that process grain and starch-containing raw materials into flour, semolina, starch and starch products — base raw materials for public baking operations, large kitchens and industrial suppliers.

Group 10.6 of Division 10 is broken down into the following classes:

Class	Title	Typical products
10.61	Manufacture of grain mill products	Wheat flour, rye flour, spelt flour, semolina, oat flakes, bran
10.62	Manufacture of starches and starch products	Potato starch, maize starch, wheat starch, gluten, glucose, maltose

Public contracting authorities are bakeries in federal institutions (armed forces, correctional services), large kitchens with their own dough processing and industrial operations under public sponsorship.

Public Tenders: Flour, Semolina and Starch Products

Flour and starch products are procured in the public sector mainly as raw material for in-house baking and cooking operations — the armed forces, prison bakeries and large kitchens of public institutions are the relevant buyers.

Typical types of contract

Flour supplies for baking operations: Framework agreements for wheat flour (Type 405, 550, 1050), rye flour and specialty flours for bakeries in federal institutions
Semolina and oat flakes for institutional catering: Supply of semolina, polenta, couscous and oat flakes for canteens and catering operations
Starch for food production: Potato and maize starch as binders for large kitchens and canteens
Baking-ready flours and flour mixes: Baking mixes for public bakeries (wholemeal bread, gluten-free products)
Industrial starch for public laundries: Laundry starch for hospital and armed-forces laundries (technical application)

Thresholds and procedure types

Tenders for flour and starch products often fall below the EU thresholds and are conducted as national tenders (UVgO, below-threshold procurement). With bundled demand from several institutions, EU-relevant volumes can be reached.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 10.6

CPV Code	Title	Area of application
15600000	Grain mill products, starches and starch products	Top category for milling products
15610000	Grain mill products	Flour, semolina, groats, flakes
15612000	Cereal flour or vegetable flour	Wheat, maize, potato flour
15612100	Wheat flour	Baking flour of all types
15613000	Products from cereal grains	Oat flakes, barley pearls, couscous
15620000	Starches and starch products	Potato, maize starch, glucose, maltose
15614000	Processed rice	White rice, parboiled rice, milk rice

Current tenders can be found on TED and national procurement portals.

Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public contracting authorities

The German armed forces operate their own field bake ovens and procure substantial volumes of flour and baking mixes centrally. Prisons with their own bakeries are further relevant buyers. Municipal large kitchens and school canteens with their own baking operations procure flour and starch in regional tenders. Hospital and armed-forces laundries require industrial starch for laundry stiffening.

Companies and bidders

Mills and starch producers seeking public contracts typically have to meet the following requirements:

Food-law registration: Under Regulation (EC) 852/2004 for all food businesses
Quality-assurance system: HACCP documentation, IFS Food or ISO 22000
Type-test evidence: Certified flour types under DIN standards (e.g. DIN 10355 for wheat flour)
Supply capacity and logistics: Sack ware or big-bag delivery, dust-tight vehicles
Residue checks: Mycotoxin monitoring (aflatoxin, DON, zearalenone) under the EU maximum-levels regulation
Organic certification: For tenders with organic share (DE-ÖKO Regulation)

Frequently Asked Questions about NACE 10.6 and Public Tenders

Which flour types are most frequently requested in public tenders? Wheat flour Type 550 (all-purpose flour) and Type 405 (fine flour) dominate in baking operations. For wholemeal catering standards, wholemeal wheat flour and wholemeal rye flour are increasingly required. Gluten-free flour types (rice flour, buckwheat flour) are requested for dietary catering offerings in hospitals and care homes.

Can regional mills participate in nationwide tenders? In nationwide or centrally procured tenders (e.g. armed forces), bidders must demonstrate supra-regional supply capability. Regional mills have an advantage in municipal and state tenders. Lot division by geographical delivery areas or product groups enables regional providers to participate in larger procurement procedures.

NACE 10.6 in context: Section C and Division 10

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 10 – Manufacture of food products: Food-production division
NACE 10.7 – Manufacture of bakery and farinaceous products: Further processing of flour into bread and pasta
NACE 10.8 – Manufacture of other food products: Sugar, chocolate, spices

Last updated: April 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.