In order to promote public education and public safety, equal justice for all, a better informed citizenry, the rule of law, world trade and world peace, this legal document is hereby made available on a noncommercial basis, as it is the right of all humans to know and speak the laws that govern them.
US EAS 144: 2007
ICS nn.nnn.nn
© EAS yyyy
First Edition yyyy
iDevelopment of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged within the Community will be removed.
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African Standards Committee mandated to develop and issue East African Standards.
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures of the Community.
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards they are implementing.
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iiEAST AFRICAN STANDARD SPECIFICATION FOR NEUTRAL SPIRIT FOR MANUFACTURE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
This East African Standard prescribes the requirements sampling and test methods for neutral spirit intended for use in the manufacture or blending of alcoholic beverages
The following standards contain provisions, which through reference in this text constitute provisions of this standard. All standards are subject to revision and parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent editions of the standards indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international standards may be obtained from the respective Community member state National Standards Body i.e. KEBS, TBS, UNBS.
For the purpose of this standard the following definitions apply.
Ethanol: means ethyl alcohol, having the chemical formula C2H5OH.
Furfural: an aldehyde with the chemical formula C4H3OCHO, produced by the action of hot alcoholic acidic liquid on certain vegetables fibres during the, course of distillation.
Methanol: alcohol with the chemical formula CH3OH. It is distinctly poisonous causing total and permanent blindness or death.
Neutral spirit is any spirit with a characteristic odor and test of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) obtained from distillation of carbohydrates to remove the furfural and fusel oils leaving no secondary aroma/taste /flavour.
It is used for the manufacture or blending alcoholic beverages conventionally prepared as gins, whiskies, brandies, rums, wines etc
Origin - Neutral spirit shall be derived from carbohydrate materials of agricultural source.
Appearance - Neutral spirit shall be clear, colourless and free from any suspended matter even when diluted to 20 percent by volume with distilled water
Odour - Neutral spirit shall have only the odour of pure ethyl alcohol and no secondary odour.
Taste – Neutral spirit shall have only the characteristic taste of pure ethyl alcohol.
Miscibility – shall be completely miscible in water
1Hygiene – the degree of cleanliness in respect of containers, premises of manufacture, persons engaged in the handling of the product and equipment shall meet the requirements of EAS 39; Code of practice for hygiene in food and drink manufacturing industry. Procedures to ensure compliance to EAS 39 shall be established and maintained and the necessary records kept.
When tested in accordance with EAS 216; Ethanol for industrial use – Methods of test, neutral spirit shall comply with the requirements in table 1 below;
| Sl No | Characteristics | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| (i) | Specific gravity at 20°C | 0.8066 – 0.8098 96 |
| (ii) | Ethanol content, % volume at 20°C | 96 |
| (iii | Alkalinity | Nil |
| iv) | Acidity, as acetic acid, g/1001 absolute alcohol, max | 2 |
| (v) | Residue on evaporation mg/L, max. | 50mg/L |
| (vi) | Lead (as Pb), g/100 l, max | 1ppm |
| (vii) | Copper (as Cu), g/100 l, max | 2ppm |
| (viii) | Methonol content | 30ppm |
| (ix) | Furfural content | To pass the test |
| x) | Aldehydes (as acetaldehyde) g/100 l, (mg/L) Max | 5 |
| xi | Permanganate reaction time in minutes, min | 30 |
| xii |
Fusel oil as
|
To pass test |
Weights and measures
Fill of Container: The contents of the products shall occupy where applicable not less than 90 per cent of the total volume capacity of the container.
Neutral spirit shall be packaged in such containers that satisfy the requirements of EAS 38, Labelling of Pre-packaged foods.
All containers, in which the material is packed, shall be dry, clean, and free from substances soluble in neutral spirit and leak-proof.
2Necessary safeguards against the risk arising from storage and handling of large volumes of inflammable liquids shall be provided and all due precautions shall be taken at all times to prevent accidents by fire or explosion.
Except when they are opened for the purpose of cleaning and rendering them free from alcohol vapour, all containers shall be kept securely closed unless they have been thoroughly cleaned and freed from alcohol fumes.
In addition to requirements of EAS 38; Labelling of pre-packaged foods, the containers in which neutral spirit is packaged for storage or transport shall be clearly marked with the following;.
The method of drawing representative sample shall be in accordance with ISO.
Tests shall be conducted in accordance to test methods in table 1
3