DEAS 299: 2022 
ICS 21.060.20 
 
© EAC 2022                                                                                                                            Third  Edition 2022 
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Edible sunflower oil — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 DEAS 299 : 2022 
ii © EAC 2022– All rights reserved  
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 DEAS 299: 2022  
© EAC 2022 – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
Development 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.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated to develop and issue 
East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of r epresentatives of the National Standards Bodies 
in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private sector organizations  in the 
community .  
East African Standards are developed through  Technical Committees that are representati ve of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner 
States. The comments recei ved are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance 
with the Principles and procedures for development of East African Standards.  
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 .  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 015, Oil seeds, edible fats and 
oils.  
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (EAS 299:2013), which has been technically revised  
 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 299 : 2022 
 
© EAC 2022 – All rights reserved  1 
 Edible sunflower oil  — Specification   
1 Scope   
This Draft  East African Standard specifies the requirements and method of sampling and test for refined and 
virgin sunflower oil derived from the seeds of Hellanthus annuus L . intended for human consumption . 
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the reference d document (in cluding any amendments) applies . 
CXS 192 General Standard for Food additives  
CXG 66 Guidelines for the Use of Flavourings  
EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — Specification  
EAS 39, Code of practice for hygiene for food and drink manufact uring industries  
EAS 769, Fortified edible oils and fats — Specification  
EAS 804, Claims on foods —Requirements  
EAS 805, Use of nutritional and health claims — Requirement  
ISO 660, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of acid value and acidi ty 
ISO 661, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Preparation of test sample  
ISO 662, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of moisture and volatile matter content  
ISO 663, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of insoluble impurit ies content  
ISO 2590, General method for determining of arsenic — Diethyldithiocarbamate photometric method  
ISO 3596, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of unsaponifiable matter — Method using diethyl 
ether  
ISO 3657, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of saponification value  
ISO 3960, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of peroxide value — Iodometric (visual) endpoint 
determination  
ISO 3961, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of iodi ne value  
ISO 5555, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Sampling  DEAS 299 : 2022 
2 © EAC 2022– All rights reserved  
 ISO 6320, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of refractive index  
ISO 6883, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of conventional mass per volume (litre weight 
in air) 
ISO 8294, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of copper, iron and nickel contents — Graphite 
furnace atomic absorption method  
ISO 10539, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of alkalinity  
ISO 12193, Animal and vegetable fa ts and oils — Determination of lead by direct graphite furnace atomic 
absorption spectroscopy  
ISO 15305, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of Lovibond colour  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following  terms a nd definitions apply . 
3.1  
edible sunflower oil  
foodstuff which is composed primarily of glycerides of fatty acids obtained from seeds of Hellanthus annuus L.  
It may contain small amounts of other lipids such as phosphatides, of unsaponifiable constituents and of free 
fatty acids naturally present in the oil.  
3.2  
virgin sunflower oil  
edible oil obtained, without altering the nature of the oil, by mechanical procedures, for example, expelling or 
pressing, and the application of he at only. It may have been purified by washing with water, settling, filtering 
and centrifuging only.  
3.3  
refined (non –virgin) sunflower oil  
edible oil obtained by mechanical procedures and/or solvent extraction and subjected to refining processes.  
3.4  
cold pressed sunflower oil  
edible oil obtained, without altering the nature of the oil by mechanical procedures, for example, expelling or 
pressing, without the application of heat. It may have been purified by washing with water, settling, filtering and 
centrifuging only.  
3.5  
food grade 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  
3.6  
Sunflower oil high -oleic acid   
edible oil produced from high oleic acid oil -bearing seeds of varieties derived from sunflower seeds (seeds of 
Helianthus annu us L.) 
3.7  
Sunflower oil mid -oleic acid (mid -oleic acid sunflower oil)  
edible oil produced from mid -oleic acid oil -bearing sunflower seeds (seeds of Helianthus annuus L .) 
 DEAS 299 : 2022 
© EAC 2022 – All rights reserved  3 
 4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
Sunflower oil shall be  
a) derived from Sunflower seeds that are  mature, clean, wholesome and free from contamination and 
insect infestation ; 
b) have acceptable taste and odour; and  
c) be free from admixture with other oils . 
4.2 Specific requirements  
Edible sunflower oil  shall comply wit h the requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with the test 
methods specified therein.  
Table 1  ― Specific requirement s for sunflower oil  
S/No. Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
i.  Moisture and matter volatile at 105 o C, % 
m/m, max.  0.2 ISO 662  
ii.  Insoluble impurities, % m/m, max.  0.05 ISO 663  
iii.  Soap content, % m/m, max.  0.005  ISO 10539  
iv.  Acid value, mg KOH/g, max.  Virgin:  4 
Refined:   0.6 ISO 660  
v.  Iodine value (Wij’s), g /100g  
Sunflower oil  
Sunflower oil , Mid oleic  
Sunflower oil , High oleic   
78-141 
94-122 
78-90 ISO 3961  
vi.  Peroxide value, mEq. of active oxygen/kg, 
max.  Virgin  15 
Refined  10 ISO 3960  
vii.  Colour, units in a 25.4 mm Lovibond cell, 
max.  Red:  4 
Yellow:  50 ISO 15305  
viii.  Unsaponifiable matter, g/kg, max.  15 ISO 3596  
ix.  Relative density Sunflower oil 20 oC/ water 
at 20 oC 
Sunflower oil Mid oleic,20oC / water at 20 
oC) 
Sunflower oil High oleic 25oC / water at 20 
oC) 0.909 – 0.923  
 
0.914 -0.916  
0.909 -0.915  ISO 6883  DEAS 299 : 2022 
4 © EAC 2022– All rights reserved  
 x.  Refractive index Sunflower oil, at 40 oC 
High oleic at 25 oC 
Mid oleic at 25 oC 1.461 - 1.475  
1.467 - 1.471  
1.461 - 1.471  ISO 6320  
xi.  Iron, mg/kg, max.  Virgin:  5 
Refined:  1.5 ISO 8294  
xii.  Copper, mg/kg, max.  Virgin:  0.4 
Refined  0.1 ISO 8294  
xiii.  Colour, units in a  25.4 mm Lovibond cell, 
max.  Red:  4 
Yellow:  50 ISO 15305  
4.3 Fortification  of edible sunflower oil  
Edible sunflower oil may be fortified in accordance with EAS 769.  
5 Food additives  
5.1 Virgin or cold pressed sunflower oils shall not contain food additives  
5.2 Refined sunflower oil may contain  food additives as permitted in CXS 192  
6 Flavouring agents  
Flavouring used in refined edible sunflower oil shall comply with guidelines for use of flavourings CXG 66 -2008.  
7 Hygiene  
Edible sunflower oil shall  be produced, prepared and handled in accordance with EAS 39.  
8 Contaminants  
8.1 Pesticide residues  
Sunflower oil shall comply with those maximum pesticide residue limits established by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission for this commodity.  
8.2 Heavy metal contaminants  
Edible s unflower oil shall comply with the  maximum limits specified in Table 2.  
Table 2  ― Limits for heavy metal contaminants in edible sunflower oil  
S/No.  Contaminant  Maximum limit  Test method  
i.  Lead, mg/kg  0.08 ISO 12193  
ii.  Arsenic, mg/kg  0.1 ISO 2590  
 DEAS 299 : 2022 
© EAC 2022 – All rights reserved  5 
 9 Aflatoxin limits in virgin sunflower oil  
Aflatoxin limits in virgin edible sunflower oil shall be 10ppb for total aflatoxin and 5ppb for aflatoxin B 1. 
10 Packaging  
Edible sunflower oil shall be packaged in food grade containers and sealed in manner to ensure the safety and 
quality requirements specified in this standard are maintained throughout the shelf life of the product.   
11 Labelling  
11.1 In addition to the labelling requirements in EAS 38 the name of the produc t shall be ‘sunflower oil’ and with 
the description as either:  
a) virgin,  
b) refined or non -virgin  
11.2   Claims  
11.2.1 Where Health and nutrition claims  have been used, they  shall be done in accordance to EAS 804 and 
EAS 805  
11.2.2 Where a claim on the content of oleic  acid in sunflower oil is made, It shall c omply with the requirements 
of Table 1  
12 Sampling  
Sampling shall be carried in accordance with ISO 5555 and samples prepared for testing according to ISO 661.  DEAS 299 : 2022 
6 © EAC 2022– All rights reserved  
 Annex A  
(informative)  
 
GLC Fatty acid composition  
When required the fatty acid profile should be determined by Gas Liquid Chromatography. Ranges of fatty acids 
are given in Table A.1  to Table A.3  for information  
Table A.1 — GLC Fatty acid composition for sunflower oil  
Carbon  
Configuration  
C12: 0 
C14 
 
C16:0  
C16:1  
C:17;0  
C17:1  
C18:0  
C18:1  
C18:2  
C18:3  
C20:0  
C 20:1 
C22 :0 
C22:1  
C22:2  
C24:0  
Composition  % 
 
0.2 
 
5.0-7.6 
0.3 
<0.2 
<0.1 
2.7-6.5. 
14.0-39.4 
48.3-74.0 
0.3 
1.5 
0.3 
0.3-1.5 
0.3 
 
0.5 
 
Table A.2 — GLC Fatty acid composition for sunflower oil (High oleic)  
Carbon  
Configuration  
C14 
C16:0  
C16:1  
C:17;0  
C17:1  
C18:0  
C18:1  
C18:2  
C18:3  
C20:0  
C 20:1 
C22 :0 
C22:1  
C24:0  
Composition  % 
0.1 
2.6 - 5.0 
0.1 
<0.1 
<0.1 
2.9-6.2. 
75 – 90.7 
2.1 - 17 
0.3 
 −1.5 
0.1-0.5 
0.5-1.6 
0.3 
0.5 
Table A.2 — GLC Fatty acid composition for sunflower oil (mid oleic)  
Carbon  
Configuration  
C14 
C16:0  
C16:1  
C:17;0  
C17:1  
C18:0  
C18:1  
C18:2  
C18:3  
C20:0  
C 20:1 
C22 :0 
C22.2  
C24:0  
Composition  % 
1 
4.0 - 5.5 
0.05 
<0.05  
<0.06  
2.1-5.0. 
43.1 – 71.8 
18.7 – 45.3 
0.5 
 −0.4 
0.2-0.3 
0.6-1.1 
0.09 
0.3 – 0.4 
 
 FDEAS 299 : 2022   
 
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved