ICS 55.220  
 
Reference number
DRS 315: 2020
© RSB 2020
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS
315
Second edition
2020 -mm-dd
(Reaffirmed yyyy-mm-dd)
Potato collection centre  — Basic 
requirements  
   
DRS 315: 2020  
©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2020  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without  
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www .rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 315: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 1 
4 Location  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 1 
5 Structural requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 2 
5.1 General ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 2 
5.2 Foundation ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 2 
5.3 Floor  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 2 
5.4 Walls  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 2 
5.5 Roofs  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 2 
5.6 Doors  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 3 
5.7 Ventilation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 3 
5.8 Illuminations  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....3 
5.9 Fence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 3 
6 Storage area layout  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 4 
7 Facility requi rements ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 4 
7.1 Receiving area  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..4 
7.2 Changing room and shower ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 4 
7.3 Sorting and grading area  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 4 
7.4 Potato cleaning area ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 5 
7.5 Office space and related facilities  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...5 
7.6 Toilets and urinals  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 5 
8 Safety requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 6 
9 Handling requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 6 
9.1 Quality control, sorting and grading  ................................ ................................ ............................... 6 
9.2 Storage ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 6 
9.3 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 6 
10 Weights and measures  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 6 
11 Labeling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 7 
12 Waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 7 
13 Record keeping  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 7 
 DRS 315: 2020  
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 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 315 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 030, Roots and tubers . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS  315-1:2016), which ha s been technically 
revised.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Roots and tubers  (RSB/TC 030) 
in the preparation of this standard.  
Paragraph of p articipants  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
 DRS 315: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Potato collection centre — Basic requirements  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard covers the location, structural, facility, safety and management requirements for 
a ware potato collection centre.  
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.  
RS EAS 748, Fresh potato tuber (ware potato tuber) — Specification  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
Potato collection centre  
establishment where ware potatoes are collected from farmers, sorted, cleaned, graded, stored and pa ckaged 
before distribution.  
4 Location  
4.1 The location of the potato collection centre shall be authorized by competent authority(ies).  
4.2 The site shall be located at relatively high elevation to avoid water logging and safe from natural  
flooding calamities.  
4.3 The potato collection centre  shall be accessible by road.  
4.4 There should be ample space to facilitate movement and parking of vehicle.  
4.5 The location should have access to utility facilities such as water and electricity   
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 5 Structural requirements  
5.1 General  
5.1.1 The construction and building materials shall conform to the local building regulation and/or  
instructions as prescribed by competent authority.  
5.1.2 The material shall be durable and non -toxic and wind and  water tight.  
5.2 Foundation  
The foundations shall be of adequate strength  to take the weight of the building and of the potato  
collected/stored and should be termite proofed.  
5.3 Floor  
6.3.1  The floor shall be adequately strong and capable of withstanding heavy loads and vibrations.  
6.3.2  The floor shall be elevated or constructed higher than the existing ground.  
6.3.3  The floor shall be hard and easy to clean.  
6.3.4  The floor shall be free from cracks where moisture from the ground may affect the stored potatoes.  
Moisture sealing compound or asphalt should be provided to fill the f loor cracks against moisture.  
6.3.5  General space of the potato collection centre should be floored with a concrete slab to carry wheel  
loads and withstand the abrasion generated by the continual use of vehicle and trucks.  
6.3.6  The floor shall be provided  with sufficient underground tunnel communicated  to the outside vents  
5.4 Walls  
The internal surfaces of the walls shall be free from projections and cracks and should be as to fac ilitate  
cleaning and avoid interference with other operations.  
5.5 Roofs  
6.5.1  Roof design shall be in a way that facilitates pest control and other stock management procedures.  
6.5.2  Roof should be provided with the necessary lateral and vertical wind brace to resist forces due to  
strong wind and earthquakes.  
6.5.3  The roof covering mate rials shall be reflective and keep the building dry  
6.5.4  The inclination of the roofs shall be sufficient to drain rainwater quickly  and allow water harvesting , 
taking into account that the  water may be forced up by the wind.  DRS 315: 2020  
3                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 6.5.5  Roofs shall be watertig ht and gulleys kept clear of debris and leaves.  
6.5.6  The roof shall be a good thermal insulator, not affected by condensation,  
6.5.7 Rainwater drainpipes shall be not less than 90 mm in diameter  
6.5.8  The roof shall be elevated as high as possible to avoid  heating from the roofing sheets  
5.6 Doors  
6.6.2  The door shall completely be made of steel without glasses to limit the light to access the inside o f the 
house.  
6.6.3  The size of the entrance shall depend on loading and unloading operations and shall not be l ess than  
2.5 m wide and 2.5 m high.  
6.6.4  The number of doors shall be determined by the layout of the storage area and should be in way to  
facilitate the access of the stored potatoes.  
5.7 Ventilation  
6.7.1  Vents shall be provided near the floor level in the wall, under the level of floor and at the top of the  
walls near the grid line. A suitable meshed ventilation duct should be placed in each gable so that warm air  
accumulating under the roof can escape  
6.7.2  The vents under the level of the floor shall be c ommunicated with underground tunnel inside the  
storage area  
6.7.3  Ventilation openings shall be fitted on the outside with anti -pests and rodents grills.  
6.7.4  In addition to natural ventilation exhaust, fans may be introduced for forced ventilation  
6.7.5  Windows should be avoided, if used they shall not be transparent to avoid the light and should be le ft 
open as little as possible.  
5.8 Illuminations  
6.8.1  Skylight shall be avoided in the halls designed to receive ware potato.  
6.8.2  Artificial lighting may be installed and shall be used only when necessary otherwise it shall remain  
switched off.  
5.9 Fence  
6.9.1  The site may be secured against the unauthorized entry of person and animals.   
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 6.9.2  Gates shall be adequate for their purpose and wide enough to allow easy vehicular access.  
6 Storage area layout  
5.1 The layout of the storage area shall be as to allow separation of varieties  
5.2 The area shall be organized to allow the separation of reception area and outgoing loading area  
7 Facility requirements  
Facilities shall:  
a) be separate from the main storage area and shall include  receiving area,  sorting and grading  area, potato 
washing area, store room for equipment, chemical  storage room, offices , changing rooms  and shower  
toilets and urinals.  
b) permit protection again st cross -contamination  
c) clearly signposted  
7.1 Receiving area  
7.1.1 The area shall be located away from the storage area.  
7.1.2 Potato collection should be provided with weighing.  
7.1.3 The area shall be well lighted to facilitate the reception . 
7.1.4  It shall be designed and constructed as to protect the weighting equipment and workers  against rain and 
sunshine.  
7.2 Changing room  and shower  
7.2.1 The warehouse shall provide suitable changing room and shower  room  for workers . 
7.2.2 Changing rooms shall be furnished with lockers.  
7.2.2 All cleaning materials shall be provided . 
7.3 Sorting and grading area  
7.1.1  The area shall be located away from the storage area.  
7.1.2  Potato collection should be provided with grading equipment.  DRS 315: 2020  
5                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 7.1.3  The area shall be well lighted to facilitate the sorting activities.  
7.1.4  It shall be designed and constructed as to protect the grading equipment and workers  against rain and 
sunshine.  
7.4 Potato cleaning area  
7.2.2  Where washing is necessary the area shall be provided with clean running wat er and the sink shall  be 
constructed in materials that are not absorbent, easy to clean durable and that cannot impart toxic to potato.  
7.2.3  The design shall allow easy drainage and allow the debris and soil to be retained to avoid obstructi on 
of the drai nage system.  
7.2.4  The area for potatoes to drain shall be provided and shall be:  
a) designed and constructed as to allow easy and rapid drainage;  
b) designed and constructed as to reduce the effects of sunlight;  
c) clean and maintain the cleanliness of the washed potato.  
7.5 Office space and related facilities  
The office space shall be:  
a) easily accessible for staff and other visitors;  
b) well aerated;  
c) safe and unobstructed;  
d) clean, naturally , well lit and suitably furnished.  
7.6 Toilets and urinals  
7.4.1  Toilets and urinals for male and female shall be separately provided in the premises of the potato  
collection centre.  
7.4.2  The floor of the toilets and urinals shall be non -absorbent, washable and non -slip materials.  
7.4.3  The wall shall be constructed from non - absorbent, w ashable materials and shall be light coloured, up  
to a height of 2 metres and they shall be smooth and without crevices and shall be easy to clean and  disinfect.  
7.4.4  The toilets and urinals shall be provided  with hand washing  and drying  facilities.   
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 7.4.5  The number of toilets shall be adequate for the number of employees and people frequenting the  
potato collection centre  
8 Safety requirements  
8.1 Warning signs or boards shall be fixed in hazardous/dangerous places.  
8.2 Firefighting equipment in working con dition (fire extinguishers, fire hydrants) shall be provided and be  
installed in a conspicuous and accessible location.  
8.3 There shall be provisions for first aid facilities.  
8.4 Protective clothes shall be provided to the workers.  
9 Handling requirements  
9.1 Quality control, sorting and grading  
9.1.1  Before bulking with other potatoes, the received product shall be checked for maturity, defects  
(varietal purity, sprouting, lesions, greening, rotting and mechanical damage, ), potato with  defects detrimental 
to the general quality of the products shall be not be mixed with other quality  potatoes.  
9.1.2  Potato shall be sorted to remove all plant debris, soils and defected potatoes  
9.1.3  Care should be taken to avoid mixing of varieties.  
9.1.4  Potato shall be grade d in accordance with RS EAS 748.  
9.2 Storage  
9.2.1  Potatoes shall be stored in conditions that keep the quality of the product.  
9.2.3  Bulk storage height of potatoes should not exceed 2 m.  
9.2.4  The FIFO system shall be applied.  
9.3 Packaging  
The packaging shall b e done in accordance with RS EAS 748.  
10 Weights and measures  
Ware potato shall be packaged in accordance with weights and measures requirements of the destinatio n 
country.  DRS 315: 2020  
7                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 11 Labeling  
In addition to the requirement in RS EAS 748, the label shall indicate the potato collection centre and the date 
of harvest.  
12 Waste management  
12.1 There shall be waste disposal system subject to environmental protection principles.  
12.2 The waste disposal area shall be located in a way  to avoid harbourage of rodents.  
13 Record keepi ng 
Records shall be kept for the quantity collected, variety, suppliers’  identification and distribution details.  
   
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 Bibliography  
[1] RS 315: 2016, Potato collection centre — Basic Requirements, First Edition  
 DRS 315: 2020  
 
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