ICS 67.020  
Price based on …..pages  
Reference number  
DRS  234-1: 2020  
© RSB 2020  
   
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
234-1 
 
Second edition  
Approved by RSB yyyy-mm-dd 
 
Non-food compounds used in food 
processing establishments — 
requirements  — 
Part 1: 
Food -grade lubricants  
   
DRS  234-1: 2020  
i                ©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved  
 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 reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
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E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rs b.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS  234-1: 2020  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 Contents  Page 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  2 
4.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
4.2 Classification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
4.3 Raw materials  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
4.4 Formulation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3 
4.5 Operational st ability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  3 
4.6 Safety evaluation  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
4.6.1  Disclosure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 4 
4.6.2  Specific measures  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  4 
4.7 Storag e stability  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
5 Packaging and labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  5 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 5 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 5 
 
 DRS  234-1: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the World Trade 
Organisation/Technical Barrier to Trade ( 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 234-1 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 024, Chemicals and Consumer Products . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
1) ISO 21469 : Safety of machinery — Lubricants with incidental product contact — Hygiene requirements  
2) ISO 6743/0 : Lubricants, industrial oil and related products (class L) — Classification — Part 0: General  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first/second/... edition (RS  234-1: 2014 ), which has  been 
technically revised.  
DRS 234 consists of the following parts, under the general title Non-food compounds used infood processing 
establishment  — Requirements : 
 Part 1: Food -grade lubricants  
 Part 2: Detergents  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Chemicals and Consumer 
Products (RSB/TC 024) in the preparation of this standard.  
Star Construction and Consultancy (SCC) Ltd  
Rwanda Forensic Laboratory (RFL)  
National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)  
University of Rwanda/College of sciences and Technology (UR/CST)  
University of Kibungo (UNIK)  
Ministry of Health (MoH)  DRS  234-1: 2020  
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 PHARMALAB  
BARANYUZWE C osmetics Ltd  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS  234-1: 2020  
v                ©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved  
 Introduction  
Lubricating food processing machinery such as pumps, mixers, tanks, hoses and pipes, chains and chain drives, 
conveyor belts, etc. poses unique challenges. Most of these machines face similar tribological and lubrication 
challenges found in other non -food processing plants.  
Lubricants used in food processing establishments must not only provide protection to internal surfa ces by 
controlling friction, wear, corrosion, heat and deposits, etc. but must also offer good pumpability, oxidation, 
chemical, hydrolyt ic and thermal stability whilst ensuring t hat they are safe vis -à-vis the food being processed; 
yet, they are constantly subjected to severe environmental conditions including wide acidic or alkaline ranges.  
Unfortunately, many of the raw materials used t o formulate lubricants that simultaneously and effectively 
address the above challenges and provide the needed performance in conventional industrial applications are 
not permissible in food applications. Food -grade lubricants are therefore required for ob vious safety reasons 
because regular lubricants pose potential health risks, if cross -contamination to food products occurs, for 
example from leaks or drips off from chains, conveyor belts, gearboxes.  
Conventional food safety practices provide some level o f risk reduction if cross contamination is likely to occur 
or has occurred. The same measures are effective even when food grade lubricants are used, but in both 
instances, they need to be complemented with additional requirements to efficiently mitigate s erious hazards  
associated with potential lubricant contamination in food processing establishments.  
 DRS  234-1: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 
 Non-food compounds used in food processing  establishment  — 
Requirements  — Part 1: Food -grade lubricants  
1 Scope  
This Draft  Rwanda Standard  covers such lubricants which are used I food processing machinery acting as 
release agents on gaskets or tank closures seals, as a lubricating, heat transfer, load transmission products 
onto surfaces, in equipment and machine parts where there is a possib ility of incidental contact with food.  
It also covers food -grade lubricants, typically edible oils, used to prevent rust on hooks, trolleys, and similar 
equipment.  
This standard does not specify perfor mance requirements for such lub ricants.  
2 Normative refer ences  
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 edition of the re ferenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ISO 6743 , Lubricants, industrial oils and related products (class L)  — Classification  
RS ISO 6743 -99, Lubricants, industrial oils and related products (class L)  — Classification — Part 99: General  
ISO 1 1014, Safety data sheet for chemical products — Content and order of section  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
lubricant  
substance capable of reducing corrosion of metal surfaces, friction, adhesion, heat and wear when introduced 
as a film or a topical application between two solid surfaces  
3.2 
food -grade lubricant  
substance used for lubrication, thermal transfer, load transmission, or corrosion protection, release agent in 
food processing and packaging machines and equipment, that contact with human food or animal feed is likely 
to occur   
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 3.3 
non food -grade lubricant  
lubricant used on equipment and machine parts in food processing locations where there is no likelihood of 
contact with food and whose contact with the food may results into a hazard  
3.4 
processing  
unit process and the unit operation carried out in a food processing establishment with the purpose of producing 
a consumable, human food product  
3.5 
acceptable  
acceptable t o the authority admini stering this standard  
3.6 
batch/lot  
material from a single mix (blend) or, in the case of a continuous production process, the material from a single 
day’s production  
3.7 
risk assessment  
overall process comprising risk analysis and ri sk evaluation  
3.8 
defective  
lubricant that fails to comply with one or more of the requirements of this standard  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General  
All lubricants likely to be in contact with food, either incidentally or otherwise when used on equipment and 
machinery fo r producing, manufacturing, processing, preparing, conditioning, treating, packaging, packing, 
transporting and holding food products, shall be food -grade lubricants and shall conform to all the requirements 
of this standard. Lubricants with incidental foo d contact potential shall be selected from ISO 6743 -99 depending 
on their intended applications; they shall also conform to the description given in other relevant parts of ISO 
6743.  
  
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 4.2 Classification  
For the purpose of this standard, lubricants for use in food processing shall be classified as follows:  
Type 1: Food -grade lubricants used in food processing environment where there is the possibility of incidental 
food contact.  
Type 2: Food -grade lubricants, typically edible oils such as corn oils, soy oils, e tc. used to prevent rust on hooks, 
trolleys and similar equipment . 
Type 3: Non-food-grade lubricants used on equipment and machine parts in locations where there is no 
possibility of food contact . 
4.3 Raw materials  
4.3.1  Any raw material substance and ingredie nts utilized in the formulation and production of the food -grade 
lubricants shall not be hazardous or toxic by itself or in combination and shall not render the lubricant hazardous 
or toxic when it is used correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s di rection of use. Use of any raw material 
or ingredient shall be limited to the amount only necessary to achieve the minimal needed technical effect.  
4.3.2  When assessed in accordance with clause 4 , acceptable evidences shall be provided to demonstrate 
that the raw materials used in the formulation are suitable for use in the food processing establishment.  
4.4 Formulation  
4.4.1  Type 1 and type 2 lubricants shall be:  
a) Formulated so as to have a neutral in taste and colour and have no negative impact on the food org anoleptic 
characteristics; and  
b) Free from contamination by microorganisms such as microbes, yeast, fungi, etc.  
4.4.2  Type 1 and type 2 lubricants shall not:  
a) contain any of the following heavy metals: antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium  
b) be formulated using ingredients that are known as carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens.  
c) contain mineral acids  
4.5 Operational stability  
4.5.1  Lubricants to be used in food processing shall be appropriately selected and used, such that it can 
withstands anticipa ted temporal and prolonged, chemical, biological, hydrolytic, thermal and mechanical 
stresses without premature degradation.   
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 4.5.2  The food -grade lubricant shall be compatible with paint, rubber, seals and other equipment materials 
it comes in contact with  and shall not decompose under normal working conditions.  
4.5.3  When used correctly and in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations or when it incidentally 
comes into contact with food, the food grade lubricant shall leave no residue in concentration s that might be 
harmful to humans; any incidental contact with food shall not affect its organoleptic characteristics.  
4.6 Safety evaluation  
4.6.1  Disclosure  
For the purpose of assessing compliance to this standard, the food processor shall hold at all time and provide 
upon request by the authority administering this standard, the following information in full:  
a) Product name and type of lubricant;  
b) Qualitative and quantitative (%, w/w) identification of all constituents of the lubricants;  
c) Names of the chemical ingr edients based on the IUPAC rules of nomenclature;  
d) Complete information on the manufacturer and suppliers of the lubricant;  
e) Laboratory test certificate for each batch of the lubricant in his possession;  
f) Details of the study conducted on the lubricant by the  manufacturer;  
g) Minimum amount of the lubricant necessary to provide the intended effect;  
h) Identified chemical and physical changes caused by mechanical, chemical hydrolytic, degradation and 
thermal decomposition due to exposure to temperatures up to twice t he normal operating temperature; and  
i) Approval for the lubricant to be used as “food -grade lubricant” by the authorized organ of the manufacturing 
country.  
4.6.2  Specific measures  
Lubricants shall not be mixed with food either for processing purpose or otherwise.  
The food processor shall establish, implement and maintain a documented system which shall ensure that the 
food produced where the lubricant is used is safe. The system shall include:  
a) A documented procedure for evaluating the quality and safety of the pur chased lubricant before use and 
records thereof;  
b) Identification and risk assessment of all the hazards which are reasonably likely to occur from the use of 
the lubricant on the food being produced;   
5                ©RSB 2020 - All rights reserved  
 c) Design, validate and implement methods and measures to eff iciently eliminate the risks associated with the 
used of the lubricant;  
d) Records of laboratory test carried out on the final food product in relation to freedom from the presence of 
the lubricant in the food;  
e) All lubrication points in and on equipment where  direct and/or indirect contact between the lubricant and the 
food is possible shall be clearly identified and properly marked with visible signs to prevent contamination 
with non food -grade lubricants or food -grade lubricants; and  
f) A system of identificati on which ensures that the food product can traced back to the relevant records of the 
batch of lubricant used during the food product processing.  
4.7  Storage stability  
4.7.1  Adequate environment, in a separate facility, shall be provided for storage of the lu bricants to prevent 
its deterioration and unintentional food contamination of food products.  
4.7.2  During storage in its original container for 18 months at 25 ºC ± 10 ºC, the lubricants shall remain stable 
and shall show no signs of separation, change in colour, nor shall it develop unpleasant odour.  
4.7.3  In addition, a lubricant in grease form shall remain homogeneous, smooth textured and free from 
lumps. After storage under such conditions, the lubricant shall still comply with all the requirements of t his 
standard.  
5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
The products shall be packaged in such a way that they are safe and secure during transportation and handling. 
The container shall not alter or contaminate the products.  
5.2 Labelling  
5.2.1  Each container shall be securely closed and labelled with the following information:  
a) Name of the product or trade/brand name accompanied by the word “FOOD GRADE LUBRICANT”;  
b) Name of the manufacturer and that of the distributor, if any;  
c) The intended purpose, suitability and appl icability;  
d) The minimum amount of lubricant required to accomplish the required technical effect;  
e) Hazard warnings, if any;  
f) Manufacture and expiry dates;   
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 g) Batch identification;  
h) Direction of use; and  
i) Disposal instructions.  
5.2.2  The packaged lubricant shall be  accompanied by a material safety data sheet conforming to ISO 
11014.  
 
 
   
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