G/TBT/N/RWA/1002  
27 February 2024  
(24-1779) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  RWANDA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
P.O.BOX 7099, Kigali, Rwanda  
Tel: +250 788303492  
Email: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Semi-
manufactures of timber (ICS code(s): 79.080)  
5. Title, number of pages and language( s) of the notified document:  DRS 573: 2024, 
Wooden and bamboo toothpicks — Specification; (71 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies the terms and definitions, 
classification, requirements, packaging, labellin g, transportation and storage of wooden 
and bamboo toothpicks. This standard applies to wooden and bamboo sticks processed 
from wood and bamboo for tooth picking.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection; Protection of human health or safety; Protection of the 
environment; Quality requirements; Reducing trade barriers and facilitating trade; Cost 
saving a nd productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
1. RS 427, Round and sawn timber — Nomenclature of timbers used in Rwanda  
2. RS 413, Furniture — Quality and grading of wooden furniture  
3. RS ISO 13061 -1, Physical and mechanical properties of wood — Test methods for 
small clear wood specimens — Part 1: Determination of moisture content for 
physical and mechanical tests  G/TBT/N/RWA/1002  
 
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  4. RS ISO 2859 -1:1, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: 
Sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot 
inspection  
5. RS ISO 4833 -1, Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the 
enumeration of microorganisms — Part 1: Colony count at 30 degrees C by the 
pour plate technique  
6. RS ISO 16649 -2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal 
method for the enumeration of ß -glucuronidase -positive Escherichia coli — Part 
2: Colony -count technique at 44 °C using 5 -bromo -4-chloro -3-indolyl ß -D-
glucuronide  
7. RS ISO 6888 -1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal 
metho d for the enumeration of coagulase -positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus 
aureus and other species) — Part 1: Technique using Baird -Parker agar medium  
8. RS ISO 21527 -2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal 
method for the enumeration of yeasts and moulds — Part 2: Colony count 
technique in products with water activity less than or equal to 0,95  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Toll Free: 3250  
Tel: +250 788303492  
Email: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
P.O.BOX 7099, Kigali, Rwanda  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/RWA/24_01664_00_e.pdf