Reference number  
DRS  401: 2024  
© RSB 2024  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
401 
 
Second edition  
2024 -mm-dd 
 
Pet shampoo — Specification  
 
  DRS  401: 2024  
©RSB 2024 - 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  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2024  
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 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:  German  (Switzerland)
Field  Code  ChangedFormatted:  German  (Switzerland)
Formatted:  German  (Switzerland)DRS  401: 2024  
iii                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  ivv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
4.1 Ingredients  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 2 
4.2 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
4.3 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
5 Packaging and labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  4 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4 
Annex  A (normative)  List of ingredients conventionally used in formulation of synthetic 
detergent based shampoo  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  5 
A.1 Detergents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 5 
A.2 Foam stabilizers  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  5 
A.3 Solubilizing agents  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  5 
A.4 Preservatives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  6 
A.5 Opacifying agents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
A.6 Inorganic salts  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  6 
A.7 Emollients  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 7 
A.8 Thickening agents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
A.9 Other groups of ingredients  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  7 
 DRS  401: 2024  
©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved                  iv 
 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 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  401 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 42, Surface Active Agents . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS  401: 201 9), which has been technically revised.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Surface Active Agen ts (RSB/TC 
42) in th e preparation of this standard.  
Standards for Sustainability  
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority  
HORIZON/SOPYRWA  
University of Rwanda/College of Science and Technology  
ORIBUT Company Ltd  
AMABOKO Y’URWANDA Ltd  
Rwanda Investigation Bureau  
Hygiene and Paper Works Ltd  
SULFO Rwanda Industries  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS  401: 2024  
v                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 Introduction  
Pets require the same protection on their coats that our hair needs – debris, bacteria, and dirt will build up over 
time and can lead to infections, parasites, etc. Ergo, baths are required to ensure that they stay clean, but using 
human shampoo is completely out of the question here unless you’re bathing them in baby shampoo.  
Bathing your pets at least once a month to ensure nothing can unexpectedly build up on their coat and skin is 
ideal. Doing so ensures that the pH levels of their coat and skin are properly maintained for the purpose of 
keeping them clean and preventing viruses, parasites, and bacteria.  
Other than baby shampoo, human shampoo is one of the worst things you could ever put on your pet. Human 
shampoos are formulated to have moisturizers for the purpose of replacing the much -needed protective layer 
that gets scrubbed away. Both pets and humans have an acid mantle, a barrier that protects against infection, 
bacteria, and viruses, which goes hand in hand with using human shampoo.  
If the acid mantle is scrubbed away on a pet, however, microorganisms are left to run rampant. You’ll notice 
that your pet’s skin will become itchy, will peel, become highly irritated, and much more.  
Humans have a regular skin pH balance of around 5.2 up to 6.2, while pets typically range from 5.5 up to 7.5. 
The actual pH scale, however, ranges from 0 up to 14. Levels that are below 6.4 are considered to be high 
acidity, while the levels above 6.4 are considered to be high alkalinity.  
 
 
 DRS  401: 2024  
1                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 Pet shampoo  — Specification  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for shampoos  that are 
designed to be used on pets. 
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.  
RS EAS 842 -2, Hair shampoo  — Part 2: Synthetic detergent -based — Specification  
RS EAS 794 , Determination of the microbial inhibition of cosmetic, soap, bars and liquid hand and body washes 
— Test method  
RS EAS 847 -17, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 17: Determination of pH  
RS EAS 847 -3, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 3: Determination of insoluble impurities  
RS EAS 847 -16, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 16: Determination of lead, mercury and arsenic 
content  
RS ISO 6887 -1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Preparation of test samples, initial suspension 
and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination — Part 1: General rules for preparation of the initial 
suspensions and decimal dilutions  
RS ISO 22717 , Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of pseudomonas aeruginosa  
RS ISO 22718 , Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Staphylococcus aureus  
RS ISO 18416 , Cosmetics — Microbiology — Detection of Candida albicans  
RS EAS 346 , Labelling of cosmetic products — General requirements  
RS 278, Cosmetics — Methods of sampling  
RS ISO 6887 -1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Preparation of test samples, initial suspension 
and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination — Part 1: General rules for preparation of the initial 
suspensions and decimal dilutions  
  
©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved                  2 
 3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
pet 
animal  living with human beings  as a companion  and treated  affectionately  (e.g. dogs  and cats) 
3.2 
shampoo  
liquid  used for washing  hair, or for washing  particular  objects  or materials  
3.3 
pet shampoos   
shampoos  that are especially designed to be used on pets, commonly dogs  and cats, are normally intended to 
do more than just clean the pet's  coat or skin. Most of these shampoos  contain ingredients which act differently 
and are meant to treat a skin condition or an allergy or to fight against fleas  
4 Requirements  
4.1 Ingredients  
4.1.1  All ingredients used , including dyes, pigments and colourings shall not be harmful for the pets.  
4.1.2  All essential oils or herbs used shall comply with the requirements of relevant standards . 
4.1.3  A list of ingredients conventionally used in the formulation of shampoos is given for guidance in Annex 
A. 
4.1.4  All active ingredients including detergents, anti -bacterial or anti -dandruff agents shall be named. Any 
further information concerning the active ingredients shall be supplied by the manufacturer on request.  
4.2 General requirements  
4.2.1  The product shall be in the form of a liquid, emulsion or paste.  
4.2.2  The clear/transparent liquid shampoo, when examined visually shall be free from any sediment. If in the 
form of an emulsion, it shall be homogenous and there shall be no visible signs of the emulsion having broken. 
Shampoo in the form of a paste shall be free from any agglomerated particles.  DRS  401: 2024  
3                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 4.2.3 The product shall not be harmful to the user, and shall have no undesirable effect on the natural colour 
of the pet hair .   
4.2.4 The product  shall impart all the effects claimed (for example, keeping them clean and preventing viruses, 
parasites, and bacteria. ). 
4.2.5 If the product has herbal claims, the total herbal extracts (for example neem or aloe vera ) amount shall 
not be less than 0.01 % m/m of the 100 % (pure) active ingredient.  
4.2.6 If the product is antibacterial, it shall pass antibacterial activity test when tested against RS EAS 794.  
4.3 Specific requirements  
4.3.1  The product shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with the 
methods specified  therein.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for pet shampoo  
S/No.  Parameters  Requirement  Test method  
i Active detergent matter content, % , m/m, min.  6.0  
RS EAS 847 -17 ii pH, range  6.0 - 8.0 
iii Lather volume for 1 % solution, mL, min.  100 
iv Matter insoluble in alcohol, % , m/m, max.  2.0 RS EAS 847 -3 
v Antibacterial activity  To pass test  RS EAS 794  
4.3.2  The product shall comply with the limits for heavy metal contaminants in accordance with Table 2 when 
tested in accordance with the methods specifi ed therein . 
Table 2 ⎯Maximum l imits for heavy metal contaminants  for pet shampoos  
S/No Characteristic  Limit  Test method  
i.  Lead, m g/kg, max . 10  
RS EAS 847 -16 
 ii.  Arsenic, m g/kg, max . 2 
iii.  Mercury, m g/kg, max . 2 
- The total amount of heavy metals as lead, mercury and arsenic, in combination, in the finished product should not exceed 
10 mg/kg.  
- The heavy metals  including  lead, mercury and arsenic  may be as a result of contamination during processing and should 
not be deliberately added as ingredients. 
4.3.3 The product shall also comply with the microbiological limits given in Table 3  when tested in 
accordance with the methods specifi ed therein . 
  
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 Table 3 ⎯ Microbiological limits for pet shampoos  
Micro -organisms  Maximum limit  Test method  
Total viable count for aerobic 
mesophyllic micro -organisms, max.  100 in 0.5 g RS ISO 6887 -1 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa   
Not detectable  in 0.5 g of the 
product  RS ISO 22717  
Staphylococcus aureus  RS ISO 22718  
Candida albicans  RS ISO 18416  
5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
The product  shall be packaged in suitable well -sealed containers that shall protect the contents and shall not 
cause any contamination or react with the products.   
5.2 Labelling  
5.2.1 The labelling shall be done as per RS EAS 346.  
6 Sampling  
Random samples of the product shall be drawn for test in accordance with RS 278 . 
 
 
 DRS  401: 2024  
5                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
List of ingredients conventionally used in formulation of synthetic 
detergent based shampoo  
A.1 Detergents  
A.1.1  Sodium or potassium or ethanolamine salts of lauryl sulphonic acid  
A.1.2  Lauryl ether sulphates  
A.1.3  Sulphated monoglycetides  
A.1.4  Sodium alkyl sulpho -acetate  
A.1.5  Alkyl benzene polyoxyethyl sulphonates  
A.1.6  Sodium n -lauryl sarcosinate  
A.1.7  Sodium alpha olefin sulthonates  
A.1.8  Other synthetic detergents  
A.2 Foam stabilizers  
A.2.1  Ethanolamides or isopropanolamides of fatty acids  
A.2.2 Amine oxides  
A.2.3 Cocobetaines  
A.2.4 Cocomidopropyl betaines  
A.3 Solubilizing agents  
A.3.1  Urea  
A.3.2  Aliphatic alcohols  
A.3.3  Sodium toluene sulphonate   
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 A.3.4  Sodium xylene sulphonate  
A.4 Preservatives  
A.4.1 Alcohols  
A.4.2 Formaldehyde  
A.4.3 Esters of p -hydroxybensoic acid  
A.4.4 Sorbic acid  
A.4.5 Imidozolidinyl urea  
A.5 Opacifying agents  
A.5.1 Higher fatty alcohols  
A.5.2 Ethylene / propylene glycol stearates  
A.5.3 Mono and di -stearates of glycerol  
A.5.4 Zinc, calcium and magnesium salts of fatty acids  
A.5.5 PEG - distearates 6000  
A.5.6 Polyacrylates  
A.6 Inorganic salts  
A.6.1 Sodium chloride  
A.6.2 Sodium sulphate  
A.6.3 Sodium phosphate  
A.6.4 Ammonium sulphate  
A.6.5 Ammonium phosphate  
A.6.6 Ammonium chloride  DRS  401: 2024  
7                ©RSB 2024 - All rights reserved  
 A.7 Emollients  
Lanolin and its derivatives  
A.8 Thickening agents  
A.8.1 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose  
A.8.2 Methyl cellulose  
A.8.3 Methyl isopropyl cellulose  
A.8.4 Guar gum  
A.9 Other groups of ingredients  
A.9.1 Perfumes  
A.9.2 Dyes  
A.9.3 Conditioning agents  
A.9.4 Anti-dandruff agents  
A.9.5 Anti-bacterial agents  
A.9.6 Quaternary compounds  
A.9.7 Vitamins and proteins  
A.9.8 Vegetable oils and mineral oils  
A.9.9  Silicones  
A.9.10  Sunscreens, etc.  
 
   
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 Bibliography  
[1] Professional Pet Groomers & Stylists Alliance (PPGSA) 2015 , Standards of Care, Safety and Sanitation  
[2] Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, DACVD, Practical  applications of topical therapy for allergic, infectious and 
seborrheic disorders, 2006.  
 
 DRS  401: 2024  
ICS 71.100.70  
 
 
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