ICS 71.100.70  
 
Reference number
DRS 361: 2023
© RSB2023
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
361 
 
Second edition  
2023-mm-dd  
 
Herbal jelly — Specification 
 
   
DRS 361: 2023 
©RSB 2023- 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 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB2023 
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 RSB. 
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  Formatted:  French (France)
Field Code Changed
Formatted:  English (United Kingdom)
Formatted:  French (France)DRS 361: 2022  
iii                ©RSB2023- All rights reserved 
 Contents 
1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1  
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................ 1  
3 Terms and definitions ........................................................................................................................... 2  
4 Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 2  
4.1 General requirements ........................................................................................................................... 2  
4.2 Physical requirements .......................................................................................................................... 2  
4.3 Specific requirements ......................................................................................................................... 32 
5 Packaging ............................................................................................................................................... 4  
6 Labelling ................................................................................................................................................. 4  
7 Storage ..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4 
8 Sampling ................................................................................................................................................ 4  
Annex A (normative)  Determination of sulphated ash .................................................................................. 5  
A.1 Reagents ................................................................................................................................................ 5  
A.2 Procedure ............................................................................................................................................... 5  
A.3 Calculation ............................................................................................................................................. 5  
Annex B (normative)  Bleed number ................................................................................................................ 6  
Procedure ............................................................................................................................................................ 6  
 
 DRS 361: 2023 
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword 
Rwanda Standardsarepreparedby 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 Standards 
adopted by Technical committees are ratified by members of RSB Board of Directors for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards. 
DRS361 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 011, Cosmetic and related products.  
This secondedition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS 361:2018), of which has been technically 
revised. 
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Cosmetic and related 
products (RSB/TC 011) in the preparation of this standard. 
Paragraph of participants 
University of Rwanda -College of Science and Technology (UR-CST) 
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda-FDA) 
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) 
Rwanda Forensic Laboratory (RFL) 
Kipharma 
SULFO Industries Rwanda 
ORIBUT Company Ltd 
Uburanga products 
Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS) 
Rwanda Standards Board(RSB) – Secretariat 
 DRS 361: 2023 
1                ©RSB2023- All rights reserved 
 Herbal jelly — Specification 
1 Scope 
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for herbal petroleum jelly. 
It does not apply to products intended to be used for medicinal purpose.  
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 editioncited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. 
RS333, Herbal cosmetics products – General requirements 
 
RS EAS 342, Pomades and solid brilliantine – Specification 
 
RS ISO 18664, Traditional Chinese Medicine —Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in 
Traditional Chinese Medicine 
 
RS EAS 346, Labelling of cosmetics — General requirements 
 
RS EAS 377 (all parts) , Cosmetic and cosmetic products 
 
RS EAS 847-6, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 6: Determination of melting point  
 
RS EAS 847-22, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 22: Determination of sulphur and sulphides in oils  
 
RS EAS 847-13, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 13: Determination of rancidity 
 
RS EAS 847-18, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 18: Determination of thermal stability 
 
RS EAS 847-16, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 16: Determination of lead, mercury and arsenic 
content 
RS ISO 18416, Cosmetics —Microbiology —Detection of Candida albicans  
RS ISO 21149, Cosmetics --Microbiology --Enumeration and detection of aerobic mesophilic bacteria  
ISO 22717, Cosmetics —Microbiology —Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
ISO 22718, Cosmetics —Microbiology —Detection of Staphylococcus aureus  
RS 278, Cosmetics – Methods of sampling 
 
RS EAS 123, Distilled water - Specification 
ASTM D217 – 10 , Standard Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease   
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  2 
 3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in RS 333 apply. 
3.1 
herbal petroleum jelly 
apetroleumjellyformulatedusingvarious permissible ingredients and to form the base in which one or more 
herb(s)/ herbalingredient(s) are used to providedefinedproductbenefits. 
3.2 
petroleumjelly 
mixture of mineraloils and waxes, whichform a semi solidjelly-like substance 
4 Requirements 
4.1 General requirements 
4.1.1 To ensure the quality of the product and the well- being of the consumer, herbal petroleum jelly shall 
conform to requirements specified in RS 333. 
4.1.2 The product shall not contain less than 2 % of herbal content. The manufacturer should set 
themaximum limit of herbal content based on scientific researches and according to the type of herbs used in 
formulation.  
4.1.3 All ingredients used shall comply with the requirements in RS EAS 377 (all parts) 
4.2 Physical requirements 
4.2.1 Solubility 
Herbal jelly shall be insoluble in water and ethanol (96 %), but soluble in ether and chloroform. In cosmetic 
spirit (boiling range 40 °C – 60 °C) the solution sometimes shows a slight opalescence. 
4.2.2 Colour 
The colour of herbal petroleum jelly shall be characteristic of plant used. 
4.2.3 Odour 
The odour of the product shall not be objectionable when rubbed on the skin. Formatted:  English (United States)
Formatted:  English (United States)DRS 361: 2023 
3                ©RSB2023- All rights reserved 
 4.3 Specific requirements 
4.3.1 Herbal petroleum jelly shall comply with the specific requirements given in Table 1 when tested in 
accordance with the test methods specified therein. 
Table 1— Specific requirements for herbal petroleum jelly 
S/N Characteristics  Requirements Test method 
i. Melting point, °C 45-60 RS EAS 847-6 
ii. Sulphated ash, % by mass, max  0.1 Annex A 
iii. Sulphur and sulphides To pass test RS EAS 847-22 
iv. Cone penetration value at 25°C, 
1/10mm in checking for consistency and 
hardness of jellies 100-275 ASTM-D 217 
v. Test for rancidity shall be free from 
rancidity RS EAS 847-13 
vi. Bleed number 5-15 Annex B 
vii. Stability To pass test RS EAS 847-18 
 
4.3.2 Heavy metals contaminants 
Herbal petroleum jelly shall comply with the limits for heavy metal contaminants in Table 1 when tested in 
accordance with the test methods specified therein. 
Table 2— Limits of heavy metals contaminants for herbal petroleum jelly 
S/N Characteristics Requirements 
mg/kg, max Test method 
i. Lead 10 
RS EAS 847-16  ii. Arsenic 2 
iii. Mercury 2 
NOTEThe total amount of heavy metals as lead, mercury and arsenic, in combination, in the finished 
productshould not exceed 10 mg/kg.   
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  4 
  
4.3.3 Microbiological limits 
Herbal petroleum jelly shall comply with the microbiologicallimits for given in Table 1 when tested in 
accordance with the test methods specified therein. 
Table 3— Microbiological limits for herbal petroleum jelly 
S/N Micro-organisms Limits, max. (CFU/g) Test method 
i. Total viable countaerobic 
mesophyllic microorganisms 100 in 0.5 g (1) 
RS ISO 21149 
100 in 0.5 g (2) 
ii. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3) Not detectable ISO 22127 
iii. Staphylococcus aureus (3) Not detectable ISO  22718 
iv. Candida albicans (3)    Not detectable ISO  18416 
(1), (2) For products specifically intended for children under 3 years, eye area and mucous membranes for 
other products 
(3) For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, the limits shall not be 
detectable in 0.5 g for products specificallyintended for children under 3 year s, eye area and mucous 
membranes and in 0.1 g for other products 
5 Packaging 
Herbal petroleum jelly shall be packaged in suitable well-sealed containers that protect the contents,effectively 
screen the content from UV light when stored and shall not cause any contamination or react with theproduct. 
6 Labelling 
In addition to the labelling requirements of RS EAS 346, the following information shall be indelibly and 
legiblymarked on the container: 
a) product name that is “Herbal jelly”; and 
b) percentage of herbal preparations used. 
c) storage conditions 
7 Sampling 
The sampling of the herbal petroleum jellyshall be done in accordance with RS 278. 
 DRS 361: 2023 
5                ©RSB2023- All rights reserved 
 Annex A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of sulphated ash 
A.1 Reagents 
Dilute sulphuric acid , approximately 5 N 
A.2 Procedure 
Heat a porcelain or silica dish of 50 mL to 100 mL capacity to redness; cool in a desiccator and weigh. 
Placeabout 20 g of the sample, accurately weighed, in the dish. Heat the dish gently by means of a Bunsen 
burneruntil the oil can be ignited at the surface. Remove the burner and allow the oil to burn completely, taking 
carethat all the free carbon on the sides of the dish is completely burnt. Heat the residue with a strong flame 
or in amuffle furnace until all the carbonaceous matter has disappeared. Cool the dish; add a few drops of 
dilutesulphuric acid; heat gently to drive off the acid and then heat strongly. Cool the dish again in the 
desiccator andweigh it. Repeat the heating, cooling and weighing until constant mass is obtained. 
A.3 Calculation 
The sulphated ash content shall be calculated as follows: 
 
Sulphated ash, % by mass =ெଶିெଵ
ெ x 100 
Where 
 
M1 is the mass in g of the residue, and 
M2 is the mass in g of the sample taken for the test.  
©RSB 2023- All rights reserved                  6 
 Annex B 
(normative)  
 
Bleed number 
Procedure 
Heat the sample to 95 °C. Then allow to cool to 100 °C above its melting point. Dip a glass tube (or 
internaldiameter 4 mm and wall thickness 1 mm) into the sample so that when it is removed with the upper 
endclosed with a finger, it contains approximately 25 mm column of molten sample. From approximately 12 
mmabove the filter paper (Whatman No. 1 or equivalent), allow 5 evenly spaced drops of the sample to 
fallseparately on the paper. The droplets should have a diameter of 6 mm - 8 mm. When the droplets 
solidify,place the paper on a watch glass and insert in an oven kept at 30 °C for 24 h. After 24 h, determine 
thediameter of each droplet plus the oil ring which surrounds it. Subtract the diameter of the droplet from the 
oil ring and record the result in mm. Calculate the average of these result in milimetres. 
 DRS 361: 2023 
7                ©RSB2023- All rights reserved 
 Bibliography 
RS 361:2018, Herbal petroleum jelly —Specification  
 DRS 361: 2023 
 
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