التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليجالعربية  هيئة  GCC 
STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
مشروع تحديث مواصفةأولي  
Draft of Standard DS  
 
GSO 18/2 021 
 
 
TC05اعداد اللجنةالفنية الخليجية رقم  
 
 
Prepared by GSO Technical Committee No. TC05  
 
 
 
 
 
 
المشروبات الغازية  
Carbonated Beverages  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
هذه الوثيقة مشروع لمواصفة قياسية خليجية تم توزيعها
لإبداء الرأي والملحوظات بشأنها ، لذلك فإنها عرضة 
للتغيير والتبديل،  ولا يجوز الرجوع إليها كمواصفة 
قياسية خليجية إلا بعد اعتمادها من الهيئة. This document is a draft GSO St andard  
circulated for comments. It is, therefore ,  
subject to alteration and modification and 
may not be referred to as a GSO Standard 
until approved by GSO .  
 
 
ICS :  67.160.20    
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carbonated Beverages  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date of GSO Board of Directors' Approval   :   /  /14h (  /  /20) 
Issuing Status  : Technical regulation  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
1 
 Foreword 
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the 
National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is to is sue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulations through specialized technical committees (TCs).  
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No (5) "Technical committee for 
standards of food and agriculture products" has updated the GSO Technical regulation  No. : 
GSO 18/2006 " Carbonated Beverages  " by Saudi Arabia  . The draft Technical regulation  has 
been prepared based on relevant ADMO, International and National foreign Standards and 
references.  
This Technical regulation  has been approved by GSO Board of Directors in its meeting 
No.(20), held on   /  /14 h(  /  /20  ), The approved standard will replace and supersede the 
standard No.  GSO  18/20 14  .  
 
 
 GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
2 
  Carbonated Beverages 
 
1. SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION  
 This standard is concerned with carbonated bev erages  and Carbonated Water 
(Soda Water) (Sparkling water) . 
2. COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES  
2.1  GSO 9  “ Labelling of Prepackaged Foods”.   
2.2  GSO 11 “Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages – Preliminary Examination and 
Determination of Total Acidity and Sodium C arbonate Contents".   
2.3  GSO 12 “Non -alcoholic carbonated beverages - Determination of carbon dioxide 
content  ”.  
2.4  GSO 13 “Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages –Determination of Sulphur 
Dioxide Content".   
2.5  GSO 14 “Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages –Determination of Phosphoric 
Acid Content".    
2.6  GSO 20 “Determination of heavy Metals in Food stuff"”.      
2.7  GSO 21 “Hygienic Regulations for Food Plants and Their Personnel”.    
2.8  GSO 149 “Un bottled Drinking Water”.    
2.9  GSO  150-2 “Expiration D ates For Food Products - Part 2 : Voluntary Expiration 
Dates ”.   
2.10  GSO 168 “Requirements of Storage Facilities for Dry and Canned Foodstuff".   
2.11    GSO 2500 “  Additives Permitted For Use In Food Stuffs” .  
2.12  GSO 707  “Flavorings Permitted for Use in Foodstuff”.   
2.13 GSO 839 “General Regulations for Food Containers”.    
2.14    GSO 840 “Determination of Sweeteners Permitted in Use for Food Products – 
Part 1”    
2.15  GSO 1016   “Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs – Part 1".   
2.16     GSO 1024 “Non-Returnable Glass Bottles for Carbonated Beverages".    
2.17  GSO 1409 “Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages – Sampling".    
2.18  GSO 1410 “Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages – Determination of Arsenic and 
Lead Contents".    
2.19   GSO 1411 “Non -Alcoholic Ca rbonated Beverages – Determination of Sugar and 
Saccharine Contents".   
2.20  GSO 1412 "Non -alcoholic carbonated beverages - detection of saponine dolsine 
and mineral acids.    
2.21  GSO 1413 "Non -Alcoholic Carbonated Beverages –Methods of Bacteriological 
Exami nation”.    GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
3 
 2.22  GSO 1793 "The two pieces aluminum round cans used for canning food 
(Beverages & stuff).   
2.23  GSO 1843 “Edible Salt”.      
2.24   GSO ISO 4052:1997 “COFFEE - DETERMINATION OF CAFFEINE 
CONTENT (REFERENCE METHOD”  
2.25 GSO ISO 22855:201  “Fruit  and vegetable products - Determination of benzoic 
acid and sorbic acid concentration - high-performance liquid chromatography 
method”    
2.26  GSO Standard to be approved by GSO on "Carbon Dioxide used for food -stuff".  
2.27           GSO 2233 “Requirements O f Nutritional Labeling”  
2.28           GSO CODEX STAN 193  General Standard for contaminants & toxins in food  
2.29           GSO 382 "Maximum limits for pesticide residues in agriculural food products  
2.30           GSO 2507 “General Standard On Food Enzyme s” 
2.31           GSO 995 " Sweeteners permitted for use in food”  
2.32           GSO 1069” General principles for the addition of essential nutrients to foods”   
2.33           GSO 2538 “The maximum limits for residues of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in food”  
2.34           GSO 2333 “Requirements for nutrition and health claim in the food”   
3 .  DEFINETIONS  
3.1 Carbonated Beverage: beverage prepared from syrup  and / or sweeteners free of 
calories (sugar substitutes)  added to one or more of natural or artificial flavorings, 
natural or artificial colors  and Permitted additives and other optional ingredients  
and saturated with carbon dioxide  
 3.2  Carbonated Water (Soda Water)  (Sparkling water) : water saturated with 
carbon dioxide and packaged in containers to preve nt contamination . 
 3.3 Gas Volume: the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by water or beverage under 
normal atmospheric pressure at 15.5 °C.  
4.  REQUIREMENTS  
 The following requirements shall be met in Carbonated Beverages and carbonated 
water:  
4.1      Produced and prepared according to GSO standard requirements mentioned in 
Item (2.7)  
4.2 The water used in the preparation of carbonated beverages and carbonated water 
shall be potable and complying with the Gulf standard mentioned in (2.8).  
4.3 The Carbon d ioxide used the preparation of carbonated beverages and carbonated 
water shall comply with the Gulf standard mentioned in (2.26).  
4.4 Shall be free of exotic sediment, smells of mold and fermentation, insects and 
their parts and their secretions, cork and glass pieces, and any other impurities.  
4.5 Shall not add any substance to the carbonated water other than carbonate or GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
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 bicarbonate sodium by no more than one gram per liter (1 g/ L) and Stannous 
Chloride (in the case of canned soda water only) at a rate n ot exceeding 20 parts 
per million (20 ppm), calculated as “Tin”.  
4.6 The food additives used shall comply with the following:  
4.6.1 Additives  Permitted in Use for Food shall be comply with the standard mentioned 
in Item ( 2.11)  according to the food categ ory No. 14.1.4  
4.6.2 Allowed nutritive sweeteners include sucrose, transformed sugars, glucose, 
fructose, and honey.  
4.6.3 Flavors and flavor enhancers (natural or artificial) shall comply with GSO 
standard mentioned in Item (2.12):  
4.6.3.1 Fruit juice (na tural, concentrated, dehydrated)  
4.6.3.2 Extracts of natural flavor of any fruit, vegetable, floral buds, bark, roots or leaves 
of plant.  
4.6.4  Edible salt (Sodium Chloride) shall comply with GSO standard mentioned in 
Item (2.23).  
4.6.5 Allowable levels o f Caffeine as set out in Table (1).   
4.6.6 Allowable levels of Quinine as set out in Table (1).  
4.6.7 Enzymatic Preparation Glucose -oxidase -catalase preparation  shall comply with 
GSO standard mentioned in Item (2. 30). 
4.6.8           O ptional Ingredients  
4.6.8.1     Herbal Extract, Root Extract, Botanical Extrac t, Plant Extract (e.g. aloe vera)(    
Coffee Extracts(Green & Black) ). 
4.6.8.2         Cereal Extracts e.g., oat,  
4.6.8.3          Seeds & Seed Extracts (e.g., chia, basil, and black sesame seed ext ract) 
4.6.8.4          Spices & Spice Extracts.  
4.6.8.5          Protein from sources of legumes, dairy products, nuts.  
 
4.7  Without prejudice to provisions of GSO Standard mentioned in Items (2. 28) The 
concentrations of heavy metals in carbonated beverag es shall not exceed the limits 
mentioned below:  
                                                   Arsenic*                       0.1 ppm  
                                                    Lead                            0.2 ppm  
                                                    Cademium                   0.01 ppm  
                                                     Mercury                      0.01  ppm  
                                                     Inorganic Arsenic      0.1 ppm  
 * If the total ar senic (organic and inorganic) exceeds the value set above, the maximum 
concentration of inorganic arsenic shall be determined.  GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
5 
 4.8 The allowable limits of specific constituents in carbonated water  and carbonated 
beverages are set out in Table (1).  
4.9 The Microbiological Criteria shall be in accordance to GSO standard mentioned in 
Item  (2.15).  
4.10     The percentage of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) resulting from natural accidental    
fermentation shall not exceed 0.1% according to the Gulf Standard mentioned in 
item (33.2).  
Table (1) :  Constituents of the product  
 
Constituent  
  
Maximum Permissible Levels (ppm)  
Soluble gas inside the can  According to good manufacturing process  
Concentration of soluble materials  According to good manufacturing process  
Organic  acids as Anhydrous Citric acid  According to good manufacturing process  
Phosphoric Acid (in beverages which 
contain cola and ginger)  1000 mg / kg  
EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra 
Acetates):   200 mg /Kg  
Glycerol Ester of Wood Resin:  150 mg /Kg  
Caffeine  145 mg /Kg  
Quinine  85  
Saponine  80  
 
Constituent 
Minimum Permissible Levels (ppm)  
 
Quinine (In the case to suggest that the 
presence of quinine)  60  
5-  SAMPLING:  
 Samples shall be taken according to GSO standard mentioned in Item  (2.17).  
6-  METHOD OF  TESTS:  
 Test shall be carried out on the representative sample taken according to Item (5) 
to determine its compliance with the following testing methods:  
6.1 Visual inspection, flavor, color and odor in accordance to GSO standard 
mentioned in Item (2.2).  
6.2 Determination of organic acids as anhydrous citric acid according GSO standard              
mentioned in  Item (2.2).  
6.3 Determination of soluble gas volume accordance to GSO standard mentioned in 
Item (2.3).  
6.4 Determination of Phosphoric Acid (in beverages which contain cola and ginger) 
accordance to GSO standard mentioned in Item (2.5).  GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
6 
 6.5 Determination of Caffeine concentration accordance to GSO standard mentioned 
in Item (2.24).  
6.6 Determination of Quinine concentration where a product is deem ed to contain 
quinine   
6.7 Determination of Saponine concentration accordance to GSO standard mentioned 
in Item (2.20).  
6.8 Detection of heavy metals accordance to GSO standard mentioned in Item (2.18).  
6.9 Determination of Sorbic Acid or one of its salts accordance to GSO standard 
mentioned in  Item (2.25).  
6.10 Determination of Benzoic Acid accordance to GSO standard mentioned in Item 
(2.25).  
6.11 Determination of Sulphur Dioxide Content or any of Sulfuric acid salts 
(determined as Sulphur Dioxide gas) accordance to GSO standard mentioned in 
Item (2.4).  
6.12 Determination of concentration of Sweeteners Permitted in Use for Food Products 
accordance to GSO standard mentioned in Item (2.14).  
6.13 Determination of concentration of soluble  solid materials by usi ng Brix degree 
estimation instrument.  
7-  PACKAGING, TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE:  
 The packaging, transportation and storage shall be as the following:  
7.1 Packaging:  
      Without prejudice to provisions of GSO Standard mentioned in Items (2.13, 2.16 
and 2.22):  
7.1.1  The product shall be packaged in containers which will safeguard the hygienic 
quality  and integrity of the beverage , so that the containers are sterile, clean, 
withstand temperatures and do not lead to any undesirable change in taste, smell o r 
color . 
7.1.2  The edges of the glass container nozzle shall have a continuous smooth surface. 
The crowns shall be new, free from rust, and lined with cork or plastic discs to 
prevent gas leakage and disintegration.  
7.1.3 Containers made of material other than glass shall comply with GSO standard 
mentioned in Item (2.22).  
7.2 Transportation:   
 The packaged containers shall be transported in boxes made of plastic, wood, or 
any other material specifically to protect against breakage or damage during 
transpo rtation and trading. The boxes shall not contaminated by any toxic, caustic 
or harmful materials.  
7.3 Storage : 
 The filled containers shall be stored away from any toxic, potentially explosive or 
flammable material. The filled containers shall also be stor ed in an environment GSO 18/ 2021  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
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 that minimizes high moisture and temperature and according to GSO standard 
mentioned in Item (2.10).  
8-  LABELING:  
 Without prejudice to provisions of GSO Standard mentioned in Item (2.1) shall be 
declared on the label of the product.  
8.1              Product name "  carbonated beverage "  
8.2  Packer or Producer name or its trade mark shall be clearly shown on the outer 
surface of the glass containers with the mention of (Made in (Country Name)) In 
the case of local production.  
8.3  The name of the carbonated  beverage or its trade mark or both shall be clearly 
shown on the glass container in a way it cannot be removed during trading.  
8.4 If the beverage contains caffeine:  
8.4.1  It shall be mentioned as contents.  
8.4.2  The concentration of  caffeine shall be written in the table of  nutritional 
Information.  
8.5 Expiration periods according to GSO standard mentioned in Item  (2.9).. 
8.6 Nutritional Information according to GSO standard mentioned in Item  (2.27).. 
8.7 Concentration of artificial  sweeteners if used with its cautions and notifications  
and shall be according to GSO standard mentioned in Item (2. 31). 
8.8             The label should be devoid of any real pictures of the type of fruit, and a graphic of 
the fruit can be used to show th e type of fruit flavour.  
8.9            The quantity and type of vitamins and minerals, if added, and that it conforms to 
the Gulf technical regulations mentioned in item (27.2) (32.2).  
8.10        In the event of any health or nutritional claim on the food label, it must be in 
accordance with what is stated in the Gulf Technical Regulations mentioned in 
item (34.2).  
8.11          In the case of carbonated water, the product can be called: (carbonate d water),  
(soda water) or (sparkling water)  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO 18/2014  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
2 
 References :  
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) 
 
es/Pages/Caffeine.aspx https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/generalissu