DEAS 1194 :2024 
ICS 65.160  
© EAS 2024                                                                                                                            First Edition 2024 
 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Cigar  — Specification  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  DEAS 1194:2024    
 
© EAC 2024 – All rights reserved  
  
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Commu nity. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African St andards Committee mandated 
to develop and issue East African Standards.   
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together 
with the representatives from the private sectors and consumer organizations.  Draft East African Standards 
are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner States. The comments 
received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures 
of the Commun ity. 
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
The committ ee responsible for this document is Technical Committee EASC/TC 013, Tobacco and tobacco 
products .  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for iden tifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
 
 
 DEAS 1194:2024  
© EAC 2024– All rights reserved  1 Scope  
This draft East African S tandard specifies  the requirements, methods of test and sampling for cigars  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this do cument. 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 food and feed  
ISO 15152  Tobacco and tobacco products -Determination of the content of total alkaloids as nicotine —
Continuous -flow analysis method  
ISO 2817 Tobacco and tobacco products - Determination of silicated residues insoluble in hydrochloric acid  
CORESTA Recommended Method No. 76 Determination of moisture content (oven volatiles) of tobacco and 
tobacco products  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and def initions shall apply .  
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses: — ISO 
Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp   
3.1 Cigar   
any roll of tobacco wrapped in either leaf of tobacco or any substance containing tobacco having finished 
head which may be closed o r tapered and commonly cylindrical  in shape.” 
3.2 wrapper leaves  
cigar's outermost layer which determines much of the cigar's character and flavo ur, and such colo ur is often 
used to describe the cigar as a whole.  
3.3 binder tobacco  
leaf beneath wrapper wh ich binds together bunch of tobacco leaves. It is typically sun grown from the top part 
of a tobacco plant and is selected for its elasticity and durability in the rolling process.  
3.4 filler tobacco  
bound bunch of tobacco leaves or threshed blend filler.  
3.5 tobacco additive  
means any substance, other than tobacco leaf and other tobacco plant parts, that is intentionally added to a 
tobacco product during manufacture in accordance with products specifications and is still present and having 
a function in t he finished product. This includes flavors, preservatives, humectants and binders  
4 REQUIREMENTS  
4.1 General requirements  
 
4.1.1  Cigar shall be made of a filler tobacco or threshed blend filler forming its general core, the binder 
tobacco binding the fille r and folding it into shape.  DEAS 1194:2024  
   
4.1.2  The outside of cigars shall be wrapped with wrapper leaves.  
 
4.1.3  A typical cigar shall contain filler tobacco, binder and wrapper tobacco.  It is the cigar wrapper which 
imparts to the cigar the fine finish, good burn , agreeable flavour and detectable aroma.  
 
4.1.4  Tobacco used in making cigar shall be uncut with desirable characteristics.  
 
4.1.5 Raw material . 
The materials used shall not contain any harmful subs tances as described in respective partner state Drugs 
and Prevention of Illicit Traffic D rugs Act s 
 
4.1.6 Length  
The length of cigar shall be between 75 and 150mm . 
 
4.1.7 Mass per 1000 cigars   
The mass of 1000 cigars shall be between 0.6 and 11.0Kg  
 
4.1.8 Free from tobacco beetle attack  
Cigars shall be free from  any tobacco beetle attack when examined by the method prescribed in Annex A.  
 
4.1.9 Burning quality  
Cigars shall burn evenly. Chemical shall not be used for obtaining better burn of cigars.  
 
4.1.10 Filler tobacco  
It shall consist of air cured or sun cured  tobacco, sweated or unsweated. The desirable quality characteristics 
shall be thin to medium and pliable texture, good size, mild strength, good burning with white ash and 
agreeable flavour. For binder, leaf with thin veins is considered more suitable.  
 
4.1.11 Wrapper tobacco  
It shall consist of wrapper tobacco grown under shade or in open air cured under shade. The leaf shall be thin, 
elastic, free from damage and blemish of parrot green colour, having fine texture and good burning quality.  
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
4.2.1  Cigar shall conform to the requirement specified in Table 1;  
Table 1:  specific requirements for cigars  
S/N CHARACTESTICS  REQUIREMENT  METHOD OF TEST  
I Moisture content, percent by mass  10-16.  Annex C  or 
CORESTA 76  
II Nicotine content,  percent by mass, (on dry basis) 
max 3 
 ISO 15152  
III Total ash content, percent by mass,(on dry basis) 
max 25 Annex D  
IV Acid insoluble ash, percent by mass, (on dry 
basis) max  5 ISO 2817  
V Total chloride content, percent by mass,(on dry 
basis) max  1.5 Annex E  
 DEAS 1194:2024  
© EAC 2024– All rights reserved  5 Additives  
Additives shall be of a nature and purity which are suitable for use as tobacco and tobacco products additives.   
The adhesive used, shall be of food grade and sh all not contain copper sulphated.  
6. CONTAMINANTS  
The product shall con form to levels of purity accepted in the food industry. Levels of heavy metals transferred 
to the smoke shall not exceed those levels accepted in food industry with reference to Codex 193  
7. SAMPLING  
The method of representing samples of the material and the criteria for conformity shall be done as prescribed 
in Annex B.   
8. PACKAGING, MARKING AND LABELLING  
8.1 Packaging  
Cigars of uniform colour shall be packed in one packet which may be 5,10,25,50 or 100 in numbers in a 
wooden, tin or cardboard  box openin g only at the top, or paper wrapped completely closed all sides and with 
all outer edges gummed down . 
8.2 Marking and labelling  
Each packet of cigars shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following  
a) Name of the product shall be Cigar . 
b) Name of the m anufacturer  
c) Brand name or trade name if any  
d) Number of cigars  
e) manufacture date or code  date 
f)  Batch number/lot number  
g) tax stamps . 
h) Health warning message as pre scribed in respective partner state tobacco and tobacco products 
regulations  
i) Declaration on additi ves used.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1194:2024  
  ANNEX A: EXAMINATION FOR FREEDOM FROM BEETLE ATTACK  
PROCEDURE . 
Take 5 cigars and visually examine the surface of each for the presence of any penetrations by tobacco 
beetles. Cut open these cigars one by one on clean white sheet of paper.  
Examine the cut material carefully for the presence of tobacco beetle and all its stages which are egg, larval, 
pupal and alive or dead adult, either visually or with the help of hand lens.  
 
ANNEX B : SAMPLING OF CIGAR  
B-1 In drawing, preparing, storing an d handling samples, the following precautions and directions shall be 
observed.  
B-1.1 Precautions shall be taken to draw samples so as to protect the sample, the material to be sampled and 
the receptacles for samples from loss or gain of moisture and from adventitious contamination.  
B-1.2 The samples shall be placed in clean and dry receptacles. The receptacles shall be sealed air tight after 
filling and marked with full details of sampling, date of manufacture, name of the manufacturer and other 
important particulars of the consignment.  
B-1.3 Samples shall be stored in such a manner that the conditions of storage do not duly affect the quality of 
the material.  
B-1.4 Sampling shall be done by person agreed to between the purchaser and the vendor and in the p resence 
of the purchaser (or his representative) and vendor (or his representative.)  
B-2 SCALE OF SAMPLING  
B-2.1 All the bulk containers in a single consignment of the material pertaining to the same brands shall 
constitute a lot. If the consignment is dec lared to consist of different brands, the bulk containers belonging to 
the same brand shall be grouped together to constitute a lot.  
B-2.1.1  Samples shall be tested for each lot for ascertaining conformity of the materials to the requirement of 
this specif ication.  
B-2.2 The number of bulk container to be selected from the lot shall depend on the size of the lot and shall be 
in accordance with Table 2.  
Table 2: Number of bulk containers to be selected for sampling.  
Lot size (N)  Number of bulk containers to b e selected(n)  
Below 5  2 
6 to 10  3 
Over 10  4 
 
 
B-2.3 these bulk containers shall be chosen at random and for this purpose some random number as agreed 
to between the purchaser and vendor shall be used. Incase such table is not available the following pr ocedure 
shall be adopted.  
Arrange all the bulk containers in the lot in order and count them as 1,2,3…, up to r and so on, every rth bulk 
container thus counted shall be withdrawn to give a sample for test, where r=N/n (see Table 2). If r comes to 
be a fra ctional number, its value shall be taken as equal to the intergral part of  it. 
 DEAS 1194:2024  
© EAC 2024– All rights reserved  B-3 PREPARATION OF SAMPLE.  
 
B-3-1 Individual samples  
The number of packets to be taken at random from each selected bulk container shall be sufficient so that to 
give about 300 g of materials. The materials so taken shall be mixed, 150g of the same shall be taken, crushed 
into small pieces, thoroughly mixed together and divided into three equal parts. Each part shall constitute an 
individual sample representing the bulk container  and shall be transferred immediately to thoroughly clean and 
dry receptacles and sealed air -tight. The receptacles shall be labelled with the particulars given under B -1-2 
 
The individual samples so obtained from the lot shall be divided into three sets i n such away that every set 
has an indvidual sample representing each selected bulk container. One of these sets shall be marked for the 
purchaser, another for the vendor and the thir d for the referee and all the three sets shall bear the 
seals of purchaser  and the vendor.  
 
B-3.2   Composite sample  
From the portion of the material left over after preparing the individual sample (see B -3.1), equal quantities of 
the material shall be taken for each selected container and well mixed together to form a composite  sample of 
about 150g for the lot.  
 
The composite sample shall be divided into three equal parts, one for the purchaser, another for the vendor 
and the third for the referee and all the three samples shall bear the seals of the purchaser and the vendor.  
 
B-3.3 Referee sample.  
Referee sample shall consist of sets of individual samples ( see B -3.1) and a composite sample ( see B -3.2) 
marked for this purpose and shall bear the seals of the purchaser and the vendor. These shall be kept at a 
place agreed to betwee n the two.  
 
B-4  NUMBER OF TESTS.  
 
B-4.1 Tests for determination of moisture content, nicotine and total ash shall be conducted on each of the 
individual sample (see B -3.1) 
 
B-4.2  Tests for the determination of the remaining characteristics shall be condu cted on the composite 
sample ( see B -3.2). 
  
B-5  CRITERIA FOR CONFORMITY.  
 
B-5.1  A lot shall be declared as conforming to the specifications when;  
 
a) Each of the test result for moisture content, nicotine, and total ash satisfies the corresponding 
requireme nt specified in table 1. If, however, one or more test results do not satisfy the respective 
requirement the conformity of the lot shall be ascertained in accordance with B -5.1.1  
b) The test results on the composite samples for the remaining requirement for m oisture content, 
nicotine and total ash, the following procedure shall be adopted for determining conformity of the 
material in respect of these characteristics:  
 
The mean and the range of the responding test results shall be calculated as:  
             
Mean (X) = Sum of the test results  
                   Number of the test result  
 
Range  ( R ) =Difference between the maximum and the minimum of the test results.  
 
The appropriate expression as shown in column 6 of the table 3 shall be calculated. If the v alues of these 
expression satisfy the relevant conditions as given in column 6 of the table 3, the lot shall be deemed to have 
satisfied the requirement for moisture content, nicotine and total ash.  
 
 
S/NO  Characteristics  Test Results 
1,2,3…n  Average  Range  Criterion for 
conformity  DEAS 1194:2024  
  i Moisture content  - X1 R1 X1±0.4  R 1 shall lie 
between 11 and 16.0  
ii Nicotine  - X2 R2 X2 +0.4  R 2 ≤ 3.0  
iii Total ash  - X3 R3 X3 +0.4  R 3  ≤ 25.0  
 
 
 
ANNEX C:  DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE CONTENT  
 
The loss in mass when tobacco is heated in air at a temperature of 105 ± 5 0C is conventionally designated as 
moisture. The contribution made by small amounts  of other volatile constituents are being regarded as 
negligible for practical purposes  
 
C.1 PRINCIPLE  
Heating a test portion of the tobacco in an oven at 105 ± 5 0C, to constant mass.  
C.2 APPARATUS  
Usual laboratory apparatus, and the following items:  
 C2.1 Weighing bottle,  with airtight lid   
C2.2 Constant -temperature oven , capable of being controlled at 105 ± 5 0C. 
C2.3 Desiccator , containing an efficient desiccant.  
C2.4 Analytical balance . 
 
C.3 SAMPLING  
Sample the toba cco in accordance with ISO 8243  
C.4  PROCEDURE  
C4.1 Preparation of weighing bottle  
Remove the  lid from the weighing bottle (2 .1) and heat both for 1 h in the oven  (2.2) at 105 ± 5 0C. Cool in the 
desiccator (2 .3). After cooling, fit the lid and weigh to the nearest 0.001 g.  
C4.2 Preparation o f test Sample  
Thoroughly mix the sample of tobacco  
C4.3 Test Portion  
Weigh, to the nearest 0,001 g, about 5 g of the test Sample into  the prepared weighing bottle (2 .1). 
C4.4 Determination  
Heat the weighing bottle and contents, with the lid removed but al ongside the bottle, in the oven (2 .2) at 105 ± 
5 0C for 6 h. Cool in the desiccator (2 .3), fit the lid and weigh. Return the bottle and its lid to the oven and heat 
again for 1 h, cool in the desiccator, fit the lid, and weigh; repeat these operations, if necessary, until the 
difference between two successive weighing does not exceed 0,005 g. If the mass of the test portion 
increases after repeated heating, calculate the result from the weighing immediately before the mass starts to 
increase.  
Carry out two separate determinations on the same prepared test sample (4 .2). DEAS 1194:2024  
© EAC 2024– All rights reserved  Note  
In general, a single 16 h period in the oven at 105 ±0.5 0C gives equivalent results, but it is the responsibility 
of the analyst to confirm this in each particular case.  
 
C.5 EXPRESSION  OF RESULTS  
C5.1 Calculation  
The loss in mass at 105 ±5 0C, expressed in percentage by mass is given by the formula  
(M0 –m1) x 100/M 0 
M0 is the initial mass in grams of the test portion  
m 1  is the mass in grams of the dried test portion  
Take the results  of the two determinations and calculate the arithmetic mean provided that the requ irement for 
repeatability (see 5 .2) is satisfied  
 C5.2 Repeatability  
The difference between the results of two determinations, carried out simultaneously or in rapid succes sion by 
the same analyst, shall not e xceed 0.5 g per 100 g of sample  
C.6 TEST REPORT  
The test report shall show the method  used and the result obtained. I t shall also mention any operating details  
not specified in this draft standard, or regarded as option al, as well as any circumstances that may have 
influenced the result. The report shall include all details required for comple te identification of the sample  
 
ANNEX D: DETERMINATION OF TOTAL ASH CONTENT  
 
D.1. PRINCIPLE   
Destruction of organic matter by hea ting at 550 ± 25 OC to constant mass . 
D.2. APPARATUS  
The usual laboratory apparatus and the following items to be used in the analysis;  
D2.1 Dish , of capacity 50 to 100 ml, made of platinum, porcelain or other material unaffected by the 
conditions of the t est. 
NOTE - It is considered that silica dishes are unsuitable for use with this test.  
D2.2 Furnace , capable of being controlled at 550 ± 25 OC. 
D2.3 Steam bath  
D2.4 Hot -plate  
D2.5 Desiccator , containing an efficient desiccant.  
D2.6 Analytical balance . 
D2.7 Wash bottle  
D.3 SAMPLE  
Use a ground Sample of known dry matter content.  DEAS 1194:2024  
  D.4 PROCEDURES  
D4.1 Preparation of the dish  
Heat the dish (2 .1) for  2 hrs in the furnace (2 .2) at 550 ± 25OC. Cool in the desiccator (2 .5). After cooling, 
weigh to the nearest 0.001 g. 
D4.2 Test Portion  
Weigh, to the nearest 0.001 g, about 5 g of the ground sample into the prepared dish.  
D4.3 Determination  
Heat the test Portion in the dish, at a temperature near 100 OC until the moisture is expelled. Transfer the dish 
to the f urnace (2.2) and heat at 550 ± 25 OC until the ash is visibly free from carbon particles (at least 2 h is 
usually required).  
Allow to cool, then moisten the ash with distilled wa ter, dry it on the steam bath (2.3) and then on the hot -plate 
(2.4). Return the dish to the furnace for 60 min, cool in the desiccator and weigh. Heat again in the furnace for 
30 min, cool and weigh. Repeat these operations, if necessary, until the difference between two successive 
weights does not exceed 0.001 g.  
Carry out two separate de terminations on the same ground s ample  
D.5 EXPRESSION OF THE RESULTS  
D5.1 Calculation  
The total ash yielded by the ground Sample, expressed as a percentage by mass on the dry basis, is given by 
the formula:  
= 10000w  
W (100 -M)      where  
 
W= is the mass in  grams, of the test Portion;  
w= is the mass in grams, of the total ash;  
M= Moisture content, percent by mass as prescribed in Annex C  
Take the results of the two determinations and calculate the arithmetic mean, provided that the requirement 
for repeatabil ity (see 5.2) is satisfied.  
D5.2 Repeatability  
The difference between the results of two determinations carried out simultaneously or in rapid succession by 
the same analyst shall not exceed 0.2 g of total ash per 100 g of ground Sample.  
 
D6 TEST REPORT  
The test report shall show the method used and the result obtained. It shall also mention any operating details 
not specified in this draft standard , or regarded as optional, as well as any circumstances that may have 
influenced the result. The report shall include all details required for complete identification of the sample.  
 
 
 
 
 
 DEAS 1194:2024  
© EAC 2024– All rights reserved  ANNEX E: DETERMINATION OF TOTAL CHLORIDES  
 
E.1 PRINCIPLE  
Total chlorides is determined by potentiometric titration using silver nitrate solution  
E.2 APPARATUS  
E2.1 pH meter , equi pped with silver and glass electrode.  
E2.2 Burette , 10 ml capacity,  graduated in 0.05 or 0.02 ml, units.  
 
E3 REAGENTS  
E3.1 Standard Silver Nitrate Solution, 0.1 N. Standardize against potassium chloride  
E3.2 Dilute Nitric Acid, 1: 9 (v/v).  
 
E.4 PROCEDURE S 
Weigh accurately about 2 g of tobacco into a 250 ml beaker. Add 100 ml of water, a small amount in the first 
instance to wet the tobacco thoroughly and then the remainder. Allow it to stand for at least 5 minutes at room 
temperature (20 to 250C), stirrin g intermittently. Add 5 ml of dilute nitric acid into the mixture and insert the 
clean electrodes. Start magnetic stirrer and continue stirring throughout titration at a rate sufficient to produce 
vigorous agitation without sputtering. Titrate with standar d silver nitrate solution to the potential previously 
established as equivalent point. Determine equivalence point graphically by making several titrations on one 
or more tobacco samples. Recheck occasionally and determine when either electrode is replaced . Record the 
volume of the titrant.  
 
E.5 CALCULATION  
Total chlorides (on dry basis), expressed in percentage by mass is calculated using the formula:  
 
V x N x 3.54533  
W  
 
where  
V = volume in ml, of silver nitrate solution  
required for the test;  
N = normality of silver nitrate solution; and  
W = mass in g of the sample taken for the test.  
 
E.6 REPORTING  
 
E6.1 Basis of Expression of Results  
 
The results of test according to any of the agreed methods shall be reported as a percentage of the water - 
free mass of the sample and if higher precision is required, of the water and silica -free mass of the sample.  
 
E6.2 Mode of Expression of Results  
 
E6.2.1 In the case of samples where the percentage as calculated is found to be less than 0.01, the results 
shall be reported as (mg/kg or a similar basis) to the nearest 0.1 or 1 mg/kg according to the precision of the 
method.  
 
E6.2.2 In the case of samples where the percentage as  
calculated is greater than 0.01 but less than 5.0 percent, the results shall be r eported to the nearest 0.1 
percent or 0.01 percent according to the precision of the method.  
 
E6.2.3 In the case of samples where the percentage calculated is greater than 5.0 the results shall be 
reported to the nearest 0.1.  DEAS 1194:2024  
   
BIBIOGRAPHY  
 
TZS 1965: 201 7 Cigar tobacco — Specification