AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1708  
First Edition 2023 
 
 Reference No. DARS 1708 :2023(E) 
ICS 55.080  
 
 
© ARSO 2023  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paper bags — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1708 :2023 
ii © ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 1 
5 Packaging and labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
Annex A (informative)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  4 
Examples of paper bags  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
 
  DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved  iii Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmoniz e 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African communities.  The 
work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical committees. Each 
Member State  interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the 
right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with ARSO , also take part in the 
work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical committees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards adopted 
by the technical co mmittees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an ARSO  
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
patent rights. ARSO  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by ARSO/TC 14, Food packaging and labelling . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2023 — All rights reserved* 
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P. O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
  
                                                 
* © 2023 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.  DARS 1708 :2023 
iv © ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved   
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior permission 
from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored or 
transmitted in any form for any ot her purpose without prior written permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation 2023 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators  may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
  DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved  v Introduction  
 
<Text indicating rationale for the development/harmonization of the standard>  
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 20 21 — All rights reserved  1  
Paper bags — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This Draft African Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for gusseted paper bags 
which are intended primarily for packaging and/or carrying items .  
 
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 ed ition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
ISO 535, Paper and board — Determination of water absorptiveness — Cobb method  
 
ISO 536, Paper and board — Determination of grammage  
 
ISO 1974, Paper — Determination of tearing resistance — Elmendorf method  
 
ISO 2758, Paper — Determination of bursting strength  
 
ARS -1711 Paper and board food contact packaging material  
 
ISO 11093 -4, Paper and board — Testing of cores — Part 4: Measurement of dimensions  
 
ISO 7023:1983 Packaging - Sacks - Method of sampling empty sacks for testing.  
 
ISO 6590 -1, Packaging — Sacks — Vocabulary and types — Part 1: Paper sacks  
 
ISO 8367 -1 Packaging — Dimensional tolerances for general purpose sacks — Part 1: Paper sacks  
 
ISO 6591 -1, Packaging - Sacks – Description and method of measurement - Part 1: Empty paper Sacks  
 
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard the terms and definitions defined in ISO 6590 -1 apply . 
 
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirements  
 
The material (paper) used for making the paper bag shall be free from  physical, chemical, biological and 
allergenic hazards  and other defects that may affect its appearance or impair its service ability (or both) 
and may be bleached or unbleached . 
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
 
4.2.1  Paper  
 
The material used shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with 
the methods specified therein . 
 
If the paper bag is intended to come in contact with food , the paper shall comply with requirements of ARS 
-1711 . 
AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1708 :2023 
2 © ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 1 — Specific requirements of the paper  
 
S/No  Parameters  Requirement   test method  
i  Grammage, g/m2, min.  50  ISO 536  
ii  Bursting strength, kPa, min.  90  ISO 2758  
iii  Tearing resistance (MD), mN, min.  320  ISO 1974  
iv  Water absorptiveness, g/m2, min.  25 – 30  ISO 535  
 
 Note: Requirements in Table 1 applies to bags of all ply.  
 
 
4.2.2  Adhesive  
 
The adhesive used in the manufacture of the bags shall be food-grade, nontoxic and gummed 
seams/joints shall comply with the requirements of 4.2.3.3  
 
4.2.3  Bag construction  
 
4.2.3.1  Style  
 
Bags shall be designed as agreed between the manufacturer and purchaser  
 
4.2.3.2  Size 
 
The size of the paper bags may be as given in Table 2 and any other sizes as agreed between the 
manufacturer/supplier and the purchaser with a tolerance  as indicated in  ISO 8367 -1 when tested 
according to ISO 6591 -1 
 
Table 2 — Dimension of paper bags  
 
Size designation  Width, mm  Gusset, mm  Height of  the bag,  
mm  
¼  60 - 70  35 - 45  160 - 170  
½  70 - 80  45 - 55  170 - 200  
1  85 - 95  50 - 60  170 - 185  
2  95 - 105  55 - 70  220 - 230  
3  115 - 125  70 - 80  230 - 245  
4  115 - 125  70 - 90  250 - 260  
5  130 - 140  75 - 85  260 - 280  DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 20 21 — All rights reserved  3 6  145 - 155  85 - 95  275 - 287  
8  160 - 170  90 - 105  290 - 320  
10  160 - 175  85 - 120  330 - 350  
12  175 - 185  105 - 115  335 - 350  
14  195 - 205  110 - 120  355 - 385  
16  195 - 205  110 - 120  385 - 410  
20  205 - 215  115 - 130  415 - 425  
25  205 - 215  115 - 130  470 - 480  
 
 
4.2.3.3  Closures  
 
The side seam/joint of the bag shall be gummed down continuously all over the full length of the seam. 
The overlaps of the closure of the rectangular bottom shall be gummed such that when the contents are 
in powder form, it's impossible for the contents to leak out through the overlaps.  
 
 
5 Packaging and labelling  
 
5.1 Packaging  
 
Paper bags shall be packaged in suitable packages that prevent them from external environment and 
damage during transportation, storage  
 
 
5.2 Labelling  
 
 
5.2.1  Each bag shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following information:  
 
a) name and physi cal address of the manufacturer and importer, and/or registered trade mark;  
b) grammage of paper in grams per metre square;  
c) size designation and carrying capacity of the bags;  
d) country of origin/manufacturer.  
e) Batch/code number.  
5.2.2  Where the bags above have  been packaged into a bulk pack, the outer side of the pack shall 
be legibly and indelibly marked with the name of the product  and number of paper bags per package 
in addition to the information contained in 5.2.1. 
 
 
6 Sampling  
 
Sampling sh all be done in a ccordance with ISO 7023 . 
   DARS 1708 :2023 
4 © ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved  Annex A  
(informative)  
 
Examples of paper bags  
 
 
 
 
Figure A.1 — Typical examples of the paper bag  
   
DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 20 21 — All rights reserved  5 Bibliography  
 
 
[1] KS 2523:2014, Paper bags —Specification  
[2]  
 
 
 
 DARS 1708 :2023 
© ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved