DEAS 1072 :2021  
ICS 59 .080.40 
 
© EA C 2021                                                                                                                           First Edition 2021   
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Tarpaulin for agricultural  use — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
  DEAS  1072 :2021  
ii © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
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Violators may be prosecuted .  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2.1  Dimensions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  2 
4.2.2  Welding  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
4.2.3  Performance requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
4.3 Food grade requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  4 
4.3.1  Overall migration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4 
4.3.2  Heavy metals  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
4.4 Restricted colourants and aromatic amines  ................................ ................................ ......................  4 
5 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
6 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
7.1 Lot ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
Annex  A (normative)  UV resistance test  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  7 
A.1 Test specimens  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
A.2 Test conditions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
A.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  7 
Annex  B (normative)  Determination of heavy metal content  ................................ ................................ ........  8 
B.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  8 
B.2 Simulants and test conditions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  8 
B.3 Method  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  8 
B.3.1   Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
B.3.2  Selection of samples  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  8 
B.3.3  Preparation of test specimen  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  8 
B.3.4 Simulant quantity  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 8 
B.3.5  Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  9 
B.3.6  Determination of amount of extractive  ................................ ................................ ................................  9 
B.3.7  Method for tarpaulins in repeated contact with dried food commodities  ................................ ....... 9 
B.4 Evaluation of results  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  9 
B.5 Colou r migration  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 9 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  11 
 
  DEAS  1072 :2021  
iv © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 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 representatives 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 representative 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 received 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 061, Textiles, textile products 
and accessories . 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  v 
 Introduction  
A tarpaulin used for post -harvest handling of agricultural produce such as grains is a large sheet of  flexible, 
water -resistant or waterproof material.  
Development of this standard was necessitated by the need to protect farmers and users of tarpaulins mainly 
used as drying sheets for post -harvest handling of grains from substandard products and safety aspect in 
terms of heavy metal contamination used as pri nting inks and microbial contamination as a result of 
production and product handling. In most cases harvested agricultural produce have high moisture content for 
safe storage, that may result in migration of pigments, organic pollutants from tarpaulins du ring drying   
Tarpaulins are sold to food value chains with users benefiting from lower post -harvest losses, maintain 
qualities of stored commodities and leading to Increased food security, income, nutrition and health.  
As the market for tarpaulins expand s, there is a risk of substandard products being imported or manufactured 
locally and hence undermine proper storage of dry food commodities and their derived product.  DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS  1072 :2021  
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserv ed 1 
 Tarpaulins for agricultural use  — Specification   
1 Scope  
This Draft East African Stand ard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for tarpaulins used for 
agricultural  purposes.  
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 th is document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 105-B02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part B02: Colour fa stness to artificial light: Xenon arc 
fading lamp test  
ISO 105-C10, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part C10: Colour fastness to washing with soap or soap 
and soda  
ISO 105-X12, Textiles  — Tests for colour fastness — Part X12: Colour fastness to ru bbing  
ISO 248 -1, Rubber, raw — Determination of volatile -matter content — Part 1: Hot -mill method and oven 
method  
ISO 811  Textile fabrics -Determination of resistance to water penetration -Hydrostatic pressure test .  
ISO 1421 , Rubber - or plastics -coated f abrics - Determination of tensile strength and elongation at break    
ISO 2286 -1, Rubber - or plastics -coated fabrics - Determination of roll characteristics -Part 1: Methods for 
determination of length, width and net mass   
ISO 2286 -2, Rubber - or plastics -coated fabrics — Determination of roll characteristics — Part 2: Methods for 
determination of total mass per unit area, mass per unit area of coating and mass per unit area of substrate  
ISO 4674 -1, Rubber -or plastics -coated Fabrics -Determination of tear Resi stance -Part 1: Constant rate of tear 
methods  
ISO 4892 -3:2016, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 3: Fluorescent UV 
lamps  
ISO 13934 -1, Textiles -- Tensile properties of fabrics -- Part 1: Determination of maximum force and  
elongation at maximum force using the strip method   
ISO 14362 -1, Textiles — Methods for determination of cert ain aromatic amines derived from azo colorants — 
Part 1: Detection of the use of certain azo colorants accessible with and without extracting the fibres  
ISO 14362 -3, Textiles — Methods for determination of certain aromatic amines derived from azo colorants  — 
Part 3: Detection of the use of certain azo colorants, which may release 4 -aminoazobenzene  
ISO 16373 -1, Textiles — Dyestuffs — Part 1: General principles of testing coloured textiles for dyestuff 
identification  DEAS  1072 :2021  
2 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 ISO 16373 -2, Textiles — Dyestuffs — Part 2 : General method for the determination of extractable dyestuffs 
including allergenic and carcinogenic dyestuffs (method using pyridine -water)  
ISO 16373 -3, Textiles — Dyestuffs — Part 3: Method for determination of certain carcinogenic dyestuffs 
(method usi ng triethylamine/methanol)  
ISO 22958 , Textiles — Water resistance — Rain tests: exposure to a horizontal water spray  
ISO 24153 , Random sampling and randomization procedures    
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms a nd definitions shall apply.  
3.1  
grain  
small hard dry seed with or without an attached hull or fruit layer harvested for human or animal consumption  
3.2  
food grade material  
packaging material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for the inte nded use and which will not 
impart any toxic substances or undesirable odour or flavor to the products.  
3.3  
base fabric  
inner material between the coatings.  
3.4  
agricultural p roduce  
product or commodity f rom cultivated plants or animals intended for human or animal  consumption  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1  The base fabric shall be woven from either high density polyethylene  (HDPE) tapes of virgin resin  or 
polyester  
4.1.2  The base fabric shall be coated on both sides . For HDPE, it shall  be coated with LDPE and for 
polyester base, the coating shall be virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  
4.1.3  All raw edges of the tarpaulins shall be heat sealed or hemmed to prevent fraying  
4.1.4  On visual examination, the coating of the material shall be uni formly applied and shall be free from 
cracks, flaws and any other defect that may  impair the serviceability of the tarpaulins  
4.1.5  The tarpaulins shall be treated with UV stabilizers  
4.2 Specific requirements  
4.2.1  Dimensions  
When tested in accordance to  ISO 2286 -1 the nominal dimensions of the tarpaulins shall be as declared 
subject to a tolerance of ± 2 % of the declared dimensions  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  3 
 4.2.2  Welding  
The Tarpaulin shall have a maximum of 1 welding along the middle  
4.2.3  Performance requirements  
Tarpaulins sh all conform to the performance requirements specified in Table 1  and Table 2.  
Table 1  — Performance requirements for high density polyethylene tarpaulins for agricultural use  
Parameter  Requirement  Test method  
Total mass per unit area, g/m2, min.  140 ISO 2 286-2 
Loss of volatile matter, %, max.  5 ISO 248 -1 
Resistance to water penetration 
(hydrostatic test) cm head of water, min.  150 ISO 811  
Water resistance, Rain test, g, max.  1 ISO 22958  
Breaking strength 
(N), min.  Warp  700 ISO 1421 (type C 
machine)  Weft 690 
Tear strength (N) 
(use a specimen 
measuring 200 mm 
× 150 mm)  Warp  130 ISO 4674 method A2  
Weft 130 
aRetention of 
breaking strength 
after UV exposure, 
min. Warp  85 percent of original actual 
value of the tarpaulin  ISO 1421  
Colourfastness to li ght 5 ISO 105 -B02 
Colourfastness to 
washing, min.  Change in colour  4 ISO 105 -C10 
Staining  4 
Colourfastness to 
rubbing, min.  Dry 3-4 ISO 105 -X12 
Wet 3-4 
a UV exposure is done for a minimum of 1 500 hours UV under ISO 4892 -3 (UVB 313 nm peak)  
 
Table 2 — Performance requirements for  PVC Tarpaulins  for agricultural use  
 
Parameter  Requirement  
 Test method  
Total mass per unit  area,   g/m2, min.  300 ISO 2286 -2 
 Coating mass per unit  area,  g/m2, min  200 ISO 2286 -2 
 Loss of volatile matter, %,       max  
5 ISO 248 -1 DEAS  1072 :2021  
4 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Retention of breaking 
strength after UV 
exposure ,min  Warp  85 percent of original 
actual value of the 
tarpaulin  Annex A  Weft 
Resistance to water  penetration (hydrostatic 
test)  cm head of water, min.  150 ISO 811  
Water resistance, Rain test, g max  
 1 ISO 22958  
Breaking strength, N, min.  Warp  600 
ISO 1421  
Weft 600 
 Tear strength, N, min.  Warp  150 ISO 4674 -1a 
Trouser shape  
Annex B  Weft 150 
a If any threads slip out of the fabric the test specimens shall be prepared in accord ance with annex B of  ISO 
4674 -1 and hemmed at the outside edges   
 
4.3 Food grade requirements  
4.3.1  Overall migration  
When t ested in accordance with Annex B  the tarpaulin  shall comply with the overall migration maximum limit s 
of 60 mg/kg of the foodstuff . 
4.3.2 Heavy metals  
When sample is prepared using extraction solvents as indicated in Annex B, followed by analysis using any 
form of spectrophotometry, the heavy metal content shall not exceed  the limits specified in Table 3. 
Table 3 — Limits of heavy m etals in tarpaulins used for agricultural purposes  
S/N Heavy metals and aromatic amines  Limits,  
mg/k g, max. 
i Lead  0.01 
ii Arsenic  0.005  
iii Mercury, (soluble in N/10 HCI)  0.005  
iv Cadmium  0.10 
v Zinc 0.20 
vi Selenium  0.01 
vii Barium  0.01 
viii Chro mium  0.025  
ix Antimony  0.025  
 
4.4 Restricted colourants  and aromatic amines  
When tested in accordance with ISO 14362:1, ISO 14362:3, ISO 16373 -2 and ISO 16373 -3, tarpaulins shall 
be free from restricted colorants listed and shall have total aro matic amin es not exceeding 0.05 mg/Kg .  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  5 
 Colourants shall be identified and classified in accordance with ISO 16373 -1. 
5 Packaging  
Tarpaulins shall be packed in materials that protect them from being damaged  and/or contaminated during 
handling, storage and transporta tion 
6 Labelling  
Tarpaulins shall  be legibly and indelibly labelled  either in English, Kiswahili or French or in combination with 
the following information:  
a) manufacturer’s name, address and/or registered trade mark;  
b) dimensions of the tarpaulin ; 
c) batch number ; 
d) the words, “Tarpaulin for agricultural use”;  
e) instruction for correct use  and disposal ; 
f) instruction for storage ; and  
g) country of manufacture . 
7 Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance with ISO 24153  
7.1 Lot 
7.1.1  The quantity of the same type and qua lity delivered to one buyer against one dispatch note shall 
constitute a lot.  
7.1.2  The conformity of the lot to the requirements of this Standard shall be determined on the basis of tests 
carried out on the samples selected from the lot  
7.1.3  The number o f pieces to be selected at random from a lot shall be in accordance with Table 4. 
Table 4 — Sampling size and permissible number of non -conforming pieces  
Number of pieces 
in the lot  Sample size for 
visual inspection  Permissible number of 
nonconforming piec es Sub-sample size 
for testing  
Up to 25  3 0 2 
26 – 50 5 0 2 
51 – 150 8 0 3 
151 – 300 13 1 3 
301 – 500 20 1 5 
501 – 1 000  32 2 5 
1 000 and above  50 3 8 DEAS  1072 :2021  
6 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex  A 
(normative ) 
 
UV resistance test  
A.1 Test specimens  
The test specimens for breaking stren gth shall be cut fr om the sample as specified in  ISO 13934 (Part 1).  
A.2 Test conditions  
A.2.1  The test shall be carried out with Fluorescent -B lamp (313 nanometer or its equivalent).  
A.2.2  The duration of the test shall be 144 h (that is 6 days).  
A.2.3  The test cycle shall be 8 h at 60 ± 3°C with UV radiation alternating after 4 h at 50 ± 3°C with 
condensation.  
A.2.4  Irradiation level throughout the test shall be maintained at 0.63 +0.03 W/m².  
A.3 Procedure  
A.3.1  Determine the original average breaking str ength of fabric specimens separately  as per the test 
Specified in  ISO 13934 (Part 1).  
A.3.2  Expose the specimens alternately to ultraviolet light alone and to condensation in one respective 
cycle.  
A.3.3  The type of fluorescent UV lamp, the timing of the UV  exposure and the temperature of condensation 
shall be as specified in A .2 
A.3.4  Determine the average breaking strength of the specimens separately after UV exposure as 
mentioned above  
A.3.5  Determine the percent retention of original strength as follows:  
 
Where  
a = average breaking strength befo re UV exposure as obtained in A. 3.1; and  
b = average breaking strength aft er UV exposure as obtained in A.3.4 . 
NOTES  
1 The UV source is an array of fluorescent lamps (with lamp emission concentrated in the UV rang e). 
2 Condensation is produced by exposing the test surface to a heated, saturated mixture of air and water vapour, while the  
reverse side of the test specimen is exposed to the cooling influence of ambient room air.  DEAS  1072 :2021  
8 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  B 
(normative ) 
 
Determination of h eavy metal content  
B.1 General  
This annex specifies the method of analysis for determination of overall migration of constituents of single or 
multi -layered heat -sealable films.  
B.2 Simulants and test conditions  
Determination of migration is carried out us ing the following simulants at 40 0C for 10 days:  
a) Simulant ‘A’ – Distilled water or water of equivalent quality  
b) Simulant ‘B’ – 10 % ethanol ( v/v) in aqueous solution  
B.3 Method  
B.3.1  Apparatus  
A.3.1.1  Electric oven/water bath , equipped with thermostat to maintain the desired temperature within ± 
1 0C accuracy  
B.3.1.2  Electric hot plate , with temperature control regulator  
B.3.1.3  Analytical balance , with a sensitivity of 0.1 mg  
B.3.1.4  Glass beakers , Pyrex of 1 000 ml capacity or equivalent  
B.3.1.5  Stainles s steel evaporating dish  of 100 ml capacity  
B.3.1.6  Stainless steel tongs  
B.3.2 Selection of samples  
Minimum triplicate samples representing the lot/batch shall be selected. The representative sample shall be of 
sufficient size to convert into two pouches of size 125 mm width and 200 mm length (inner dimension 
excluding seal area) with 1 000 cm2 surface area coming in contact.  
B.3.3 Preparation of test specimen  
The pouches used shall be carefully rinsed with water at 25 0C - 30 0C to remove extraneous mater ials prior to 
the actual migration test.  
B.3.4 Simulant quantity  
Equal to at least 1 m /cm2 of contact area.  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  9 
 Glassware, laboratory apparatus which come into contact with simukants and/or the sample during the test 
shall be thoroughly washed and dried prior to the test.  
B.3.5 Procedure  
Fill the pouch to its filled capacity with preheated simulant at test temperature and close it. Exclude air as 
much as possible before sealing and expose the filled pouch to a specified temperature maintained in 
oven/water bath /pressure cooker/autoclave for the specified duration of time. After exposure for the specified 
duration, remove the pouch and transfer the contents immediately into a clean Pyrex beaker along with three 
washings of the specimen with sm all quantity of the fresh stimul ant. 
B.3.6 Determination of amount of extractive  
Evaporate/distill the contents in Pyrex beaker to about 50 ml – 60 ml and transfer into a clean tared stainless 
steel dish along with three washings of Pyrex beaker with a small quantity of fresh  stimulant and further 
evaporate the concentrate in the dish to dryness in an oven at 100 0C ± 5 0C. Cool the dish with extractive in a 
desiccator for 30 minutes and weigh to the nearest 0.1 mg till constant weight of residue is obtained. Calculate 
the ext ractives in mg/Kg of the foodstuff with respect to the capacity of pouch to be used.  
Carry out the blank test using the same procedure.  
 
Where  
M is the mass in milligrams of residue minus balnk value;  
V is the total volume in millilitres of simulant used in each replicate  
B.3.7 Method for tarpaulins in repeated contact with dried food commodities  
The migration test(s) shall be carried out three times on the same sample one after the other in accordance 
with the conditions laid down already using fresh simu lant(s) in each occasion, following any one of the 
methods applicable to it described earlier. Its compliance shall be checked on the basis of the level of the 
migration found in the third test. However, if there is conclusive proof that the level of migra tion does not 
increase in the second and third tests and if the migration limit(s) is/are exceeded on the first test, no further 
test is necessary.  
B.4 Evaluation of results  
The materials and articles are regarded as conforming to the specifications if in the migration tests for each 
simulant used, the average of at least three results does not exceed the value of overall migration limit.  
NOTE  Before carrying out the test, ensure that the sample is free from all traces of dust, fats and other impurities. If  
necessary, it should be thoroughly wiped with filter paper. The sample should be handled carefully to avoid any 
contamination.  
B.5 Colour migration  
In the case of coloured tarpaulins, colour migrated to simulant or dried food products shall not be apparen t to 
the naked eye. If the colour migrated is clearly visible, such tarpaulins are not suitable for food contact 
applications, even though the extractive value is within the limit.  
 DEAS  1072 :2021  
10 © EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  
  DEAS  1072 :2021  
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved  11 
 Bibliography  
KS 2923 -1:2020, Tarpaulins for post -harvest handling of agr icultural p roduce — Specification —Part 1: Woven 
High density Polyethylene  
 DEAS  1072 :2021    
 
© EAC 2021  – All rights reserved