هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
G.C.C STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
 
First Draft 
 
 
 
GSO 05/DS ---- / 201 5  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared By  
GSO Technical Committee for s tandards of food and agricultural  products  
 
 
This document is a d raft GSO Standard circulated for comments. It is, therefore, 
subject to alteration and modification and may not be referred to as a GSO 
Standard until approved by GSO Board Of Directors  
 
 
 مشروبات الرياضة 
 
Electrolyte Drinks)) Sport s Drinks    
 
 
 
 
Electrolyte Drinks)) Sport s Drinks  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date of GSO Board  of Directors' Approval  :  
Issuing Status  : Technical regulation  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO …../2015  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
1 Foreword 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the 
National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is to iss ue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulations through specialized technical committees (TCs).  
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No (5) " Technical committee for 
standards of food and agriculture products " has prepared this Technical regulation . The Draft 
Technical regulation  has been prepared by kingdom of  Saudi Arabia  . The draft Technical 
regulation  has been prepared based on relevant ADMO, International and National foreign 
Standards and references.  
This Technical regulation  has been approved  by GSO Board of Directors  in its meeting No.(), 
held on  ()  . 
 
 GSO …../2015  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
2 Electrolyte Drinks)) Sport s Drinks  
 
 
1- SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION  
 This standard is concerned with  Sport s Drinks ( Electrolyte Drinks)  and Sport s 
Drinks  (Electrolyte drink ) base. 
2- COMPL EMENTARY REFERENCES  
2.1             GSO 9 “Labeling of Prepackaged Foods”.  
2.2             GSO 21   “Hygienic Regulations for Food Plants and Their Personnel”.  
2.3             GSO 149  “Unbottled Drinking Water”.  
2.4             GSO 150 “Expiration Periods  of Food Products - Part 2”. 
2.5             GSO 654  “G eneral Requirements for Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary use ”. 
2.6             GSO 707  " Flavorings Permitted For Use in Foodstuffs" . 
2.7             GSO 1016   "  Microbiological Criteria for Fo odstuffs -Part1 "  
2.8             GSO 2233 “ Requirements of nutritional label ing”. 
2.9             GSO  2333   “Requirements for nutrition and health clai m in the food ”. 
2.10           GSO  Standard No ….. for "Food Additives" which  will be  adopted by GSO.  
2.11           GSO  Standard No….. for " Contaminants  " which will be adopted by GSO  
2.12           GSO  Standard No….. for "  permitted health claims made on  foods  " which will be 
adopted by GSO  
 
3- DEFINITIONS  
3.1 Sport s Drinks( Electrolyte Drinks) : means a drink formulated and represented as 
suitable for the rapid  replacement of fluid, carbohydrates, electrolytes and minerals . 
3.2             Sport s Drinks  base (Electrolyte drink s base ) means a solid or liquid which when 
made up, makes an electrolyte drink.  
3.3           Osmolality : is the expression of what the term Osmol concentration of dissolved 
particles solution (dissolved) per kilogram of solvent (liqu id), and often used to 
determine the nature of the serum to help diagnose certain medical conditions such 
as drought, and diabetes.  
3.4               Isotonic :  which are isotonic with  normal human body fluids, and contain 
components  such as electrolytes and sugars . Claimed to enhance  exercise 
performance and recovery from  physical activity . 
4- REQUIREMENTS  
 The following requirements shall be met in Sporting Drinks( Electrolyte Drinks)  
and Sporting Drinks  (Electrolyte drink ) base :  
4.1 All raw materials us ed shall comply with the relevant Gulf standards.  GSO …../2015  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
3 4.2           The product shall be prepared according to hygienic conditions stated in the Gulf 
standard mentioned in  ( 2.2). 
4.3              Taking into account the Gulf standards mentioned in item ( 5.2) and ( 9.2). 
4.4 The water used shall be potable and complying with the Gulf standard mentioned 
in (2.3).  
4.5 It should be free from impurities , separation and deposition . 
4.6              Must  contain no less than  10  mmol /L sodium  . 
4.7       Must  conta in no less than 50 g/ L and no more than 100 g/ L total sugars 
(carbohydrates): sucrose and glucose  syrup  and fructose and  dextrose and  
malto dextrose   . 
4.8              no more than 100 g / L fructose . 
4.9             May contain  : 
                  (a) cal cium phosphates; and  
                  (b) potassium phosphates; and  
                  (c) calcium citrates; and  
                  (d) potassium citrates; and  
                  (e) sodium citrates; and  
                  (f) potassium carbonates, including potassium bicarbonate; and  
                  (g) potassium chloride; and  
                  (h) calcium chloride; and  
                  (i) sodium chloride; and  
                  (j) calcium lactate; and  
                  (k) magnesium lactate; and  
                  (l) magnesium sulphate.  
4.11           Food Additives:    
                   Only allows the use of food additives specified percentages of the Gulf standard 
mentioned in item ( 10.2). 
4.12           Without prejudice to what is stated in the Gulf standards mentioned in (2.11)  The 
contaminating mineral elements shall not exceed the following:  
                   Arsenic          0.1 ppm 
                   Lead               0.2 ppm  
4.13          Materials to be used for matching the flavor of the limi ts set out in the Gulf standard 
in item ( 6.2). 
4.14           Microbiological criteria in the product shall not exceed what is stated in the Gulf  
                  standard mentioned in (2. 7). 
  GSO …../2015  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
4 5- PACKAGING, TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE  
5.1 Packaging  
5.1.1 The product shall be packaged in clean, hygienic, suitable, hermetically sealed and  
                   moisture proof containers.  
5.2 Transportation  
 Transportation shall be carried out in such a way as to protect the product from 
mechanical damage and co ntamination.  
5.3 Storage  
 The product shall be stored in well -ventilated stores far away from sources of heat, 
moisture and contamination  
 
6- LABE LING  
 Without prejudice to what is stated in the Gulf standards mentioned in (2.1) and 
(2.12), the following i nformation shall be declared on the labeling  must include 
adeclaration as ready to drink  : 
6.1        Nutritional data  (the amount of energy  in calories , the number of  grams of  protein , 
fat,  total carbohydrates  present , including each type of monosacchari de and 
disaccharhde , vitamins , milligrams and millimoles of the added Electrolyte  and 
minerals  added ) / 100  ml or the package size  if was less  than that 
6.2              The recommended volume and frequency of use . 
6.3              Without prejudice to wha t is stated in the Gulf standards mentioned in (2.12) the 
following health claims on labeling  of the product : 
6.3.1           A claim that an electrolyte drink is isotonic may only be made if the electrolyte 
drink has an  average osmolality of 250 - 340 mi lliOsmol/L.  
6.3.2           Where a claim is made that an electrolyte drink  is hypertonic  may only be made if 
the electrolyte drink has an  osmolality more than  340 milliOsmol/L.  
6.3.3         Where a claim is made that an electrolyte drink is hypotonic  may only be made if the 
electrolyte drink has an  osmolality less than  250 milliOsmol/L  
6.3.4        The osmolality of the electrolyte drink is measured in milliOsmol/L and must be 
declared on the label of the  package.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO …../2015  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
5  
 
References: 
1- Australian STAND ARD 2.6.2  
NON -ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND SOFT DRINKS