DRAFT ZANZIBAR NATIONAL STANDARD  
 
 
Essential oil of clove -Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ZANZIBAR BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
© ZBS 202 2 — All rights res erved                  First edition  
 
PCD 326: 202 2 
          ICS 71.100.60  
                                                        PCD 32 6: 2022  
 
©ZBS 202 2 - All rights reserved  
 ii 
 Foreword  
 
This draft Zanzibar standard has been developed Cooking and Essential Oil Standard Technical  committee 
(TCFA4). In accordance with ZBS general procedures, this draft standard is presented to the public in order 
to receive any technical and editorial comment concerns.  
 
The Zanzibar Bureau of Standard (ZBS) was established under Standard Act No. 1 of 2011.  
 
 
 
                          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS)  
P.O.Box 1136  
Zanzibar  
Tel:  +255 24 2232225  
Fax: +255 24 2232225  
E-mail: info@zbs.go.tz  
Web: www.zbs.go.tz  
 
 PCD 32 6: 2022  
 
1                                                                                                       ©ZBS 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Essential oil of clove  - Specification  
1  Scope  
 
This draft Zanzibar National Standard specifies requirements and methods of sampling and test  for essential 
Oil of clove  derived from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry, syn. Eugenia caryophyllus (Sprengel) 
Bullock et S. Harrison]  
2 Normative references   
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their co ntent constitutes 
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.   
 
 
CODEX STAN 193, General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods  
 
ISO 279 , Essential oils — Determination of relative density at 20 °C — Reference method  
 
ISO 280 , Essential oils — Determination of refractive index  
 
ISO 592 , Essential oils — Determination of optical rotation  
 
ISO 7359,  Essential oils — Analysis by gas chromatography on packed columns — General method  
 
ISO 7609 , Essential oils — Analysis by gas chromatography on capillary columns — General method  
 
ISO 8432 , Essential oils — Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography — General method  
 
ISO/TR 11018 , Essential oils — General guidance on the determination of flashpoint  
 
ISO 212 , Essential oils — Sampling  
 
ZNS 94, Rounding off numerical values  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following (terms and) definitions apply  
 
3.1  
essential oil of clove buds     
oil obtained by steam distillation of the dried flower buds of clove  tree  
 
3.2  
essential oil of clove leaves    
oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of clove tree  
 
3.3  
essential oil of clove stem  
oils obtained by steam distillation of the stem of clove  tree  
 
3.4  
packaging  material 
packaging material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for the intended use and which will 
not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product.  
 
   PCD 32 6: 2022  
©ZBS 202 2 - All rights reserved  
 2 
 4 Requirements  
 
4.1 Types of  essential oils of clove  
 
Essential oil  of clove shall be one of the following types:  
  
a) essential oil of clove bud derived from dried flower bud ; 
b) essential oil of clove stem derived from dried stem ; and  
c) essential oil of clove leaf derived from dried leaves . 
 
4.2 General requirement  
 
Essential oil s of clove  shall  
a) be clear and mobile liquid , slightly  viscous ; 
b) have odour of spicy and characteristics of eugenol ; 
c) have colour range from yellow to clear brown  for clove bud and stem  oil, and Yellow to light  brown 
for leave clove  oil; 
d) be free  from sediment and suspended matter ; and  
e) be free from admixture with other oils when tested according to appropriate method  
 
4.3 Specific requirement  
 
Essential oil s of clove shall comply with specific requirements given in table 1 when tested in accordance 
with test methods specified therein.  
 
Table 1: Specific requirements  for essential oils of clove  
 
S/N Characteristic  Requirements  Method of 
test Stem clove 
oil bud clove oil  leaf clove oil  
i.  Relative density at 20  0C/water 
at 20 0C 1.041 -1.059  1.042 -1.063  1.039 -1.049  ISO 279  
ii.  Refractive index at 20 0C 1.531 -1.536  1.528 -1.538  1.528 -1.535  ISO 280  
iii.  Optical rotation at 20 0C (-10)    (+10) (-1.50) - 00 00  -  20 ISO 592  
iv.  eugenol content  %  83-95 75-85 73-92 
ISO 7609/ISO 
7359/ISO 
8432  v.  eugenyl acetate content %  0.5-4 7-15 0.2-1 
vi.  β-caryophyllene content %  4-12 2 - 9 4-17 
vii.  total phenolic compound  v/v % 85-95 85-93 min 78 ISO 1272  
viii.  flash point   0C +120  +120 +112 ISO/TR 11018  
 
5 Contaminants   
 
5.1 Pesticide residues  
 
Essential oil of clove  shall comply with pesticide residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission for this commodity.  
 
5.2 Heavy metal  
 
Heavy metal  in Essential oil of clove shall not exceed maximum residue limits as established in the Codex 
Stan 193.  
  
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reserved  
 6 Weights and measures  
 
Essential oil of clove  shall be packaged in accordance with the Zanzibar weights and measures regulations . 
 
7 Packaging and labelling  
  
7.1 Packaging  
  
Essential oil of clove  shall be packaged in grade containers and sealed in manner to ensure the safety and 
quality requirements specified in this standard are maintained throughout th e shelf life of the product.  
 
7.2 Labelling  
  
7.2.1  Essential oil of clove shall b e legibly and indelibly labelled with the following:  
  
a) name of the product ‘ essential oil of clove bud or essential oil of clove leaf or essential oil of 
clove stem (Latin name including the botanical authority  of the plant ), 
b) brand name/trade name  if any ;  
c) date of manufacture;  
d) best before  date;  
e) the percentage of the eugenol  content /eugenol acetate content  
f) name and physical address of the manufacturer or packer  or the distributor ; 
g) directions for use and storage condition  
h) lot identification or batch or code number;  
i) net weight in metric unit;   
j) country of origin; and  
 
7.2.2  The language on the label shall be ‘Kiswahili’ and/or English. Additional language may be used 
depending on the designated market.  
 
8 Sampling   
  
Sampling of Essential oil of cloves  shall be done according to ISO 212