DRAFT ZANZIBAR NATIONAL STANDARD  
 
 
Essential oil of  Basil  (methyl chavicol type ) -Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ZANZIBAR BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
 
© ZBS 202 2 — All rights res erved                  First edition  
PCD 329: 202 2 
          ICS 71.100.60  
                                                        PCD 32 9: 2022  
 
©ZBS 202 2 - All rights reserved  
 ii 
 Foreword  
 
 
This draft Zanzibar standard has been developed by Cooking and Essential Oil Standard Technical 
committee (TCFA4). In accordance with ZBS general procedures, this draft standard is presented to 
the public in order to receive any technical and editorial comment concerns.  
 
The Zanzibar Bureau of Standard (ZBS) was established under Standard A ct No. 1 of 2011.  
 
 
 
                          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS)  
P.O.Box 1136  
Zanzibar  
Tel:  +255 24 2232225  
Fax: +255 24 2232225  
E-mail: info@zbs.go.tz  
Web: www.zbs.go.tz  
 
 PCD 32 9: 2022  
 
1                                                                                             ©ZBS 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Essential oil of Basil (methyl chavicol type) -Specification  
 
1 Scope  
 
This draft Zanzibar National Standard specifies requirements , methods  of sampling and test  for 
Essential oil of Basil  derived from methyl chavicol type  ( Ocimum basilicum L.),  
  
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 edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) 
applies.   
 
CODEX STAN 193, General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods  
 
ISO 279, Essential oils — Determination of relative density at 20 °C — Reference method  
 
ISO 280, Essential oils — Determination of refractive index  
 
ISO 592, Essential oils — Determination of optical rotation  
 
ISO 7359,  Essential oils — Analysis by gas chromatography on packed columns — General method  
 
ISO 7609 , Essential oils — Analysis by gas chromatography on capillary columns — General method  
 
ISO 8432 , Essential oils — Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography — General method  
 
ISO/TR 11018, Essential oils — General guidance on the determination of flashpoint  
 
ISO 212, Essential oils — Sampling  
 
ZNS 94, Rounding off numerical values  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following (terms and) definitions apply  
 
3.1  
essential oil of Basil  
oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves  and twigs  of the Ocimum basilicum  L., of the Lamiaceae  
family  
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 General requirement  
 
Essential oil of Basil (methyl chavicol type) shall  
a) be clear and mobile liquid  
b) have odour of Characteristic, recalling that of methyl chavicol  
c) have colour of p ale yellow to amber yellow.  
d) be free from sediment and suspended matter  
e) be free from admixture with other oils when tested according to appropriate method  
 
4.2 Specific requirement  
  
©ZBS 202 2 - All rights reserved  
 2 
 Essential oil of Basil  (methyl chavicol type) shall comply with specific requirements given in table 1 
when tested in accordance with test methods specified therein.  
 
 
Table 1: Specific requirements  for Essential oil of Basil (methyl chavicol type)  
 
S/N Characteristic  requirements  Method of test  
i.  Relative density at 20 0C/water at 20 0C 0.948 - 0.970  ISO 279  
ii.  Refractive index at 20 0C 1.510  - 1.520  ISO 280  
iii.  Optical rotation at 20 0C 1° - +2°. ISO 592  
iv.  methyl chavicol content %  65-87 ISO 7609/ISO 
7359/ISO 8432  
v.  Miscibility in 80 % ethanol  
(volume fraction) at 20 °C 1:7 ISO 875 
vi.  Flash  point  0C +75 ISO/TR 11018  
 
 
 
5 Contaminants   
 
5.1 Pesticide residues  
 
Essential oil of Basil  (methyl chavicol type) shall comply with pesticide residue limits established by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.  
 
5.2 Heavy metal  
 
Heavy metal  in Essential oil of Basil  (methyl chavicol type) shall not exceed maximum residue limits as 
established in the Codex stan 193   
 
6 Weights and measures  
 
Essential oil of Basil  shall be packaged in accordance with the Zanzibar weights and measures 
regulations . 
 
7 Packaging and labelling  
  
7.1 Packaging  
  
Essential oil of Basil  (methyl chavicol type) shall be packaged in grade containers and sealed in 
manner to ensure the safety and quality requirements specified in this standard are maintained 
throughout th e shelf life of the product.  
 
7.2 Labelling  
  
7.2.1  Essential oil of basil shall be legibly and indelibly labelled with the following:  
  
a) name of the product ‘ Essential oil of basil  (methyl chavicol type) (Latin name including the 
botanical authority) of the plant, and part of the plant from which it is obtained  
b) brand name/trade name  if any ;  
c) date of manufacture;  
d) best before  date;  
e) the percentage of the methyl chavicol  content  
f) name and physical address of the manufacturer or packer  or the distributor ; 
g) directions for use and storage condition  
h) lot identification or batch or code number;   
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 i) net weight in metric unit;   
j) country of origin; and  
 
7.2.2  The language on the label shall be ‘Kiswahili’ and/or English. Additional language may be 
used depending on the designated market.  
 
8 Sampling   
  
Sampling of Essential oil of basil  (methyl chavicol  type)  shall be done according to ISO 212