هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
مشروعمواصفة  نهائي  
Final Draft of Standard FDS 
 
 
 
TC05اعداداللجنة الفنية الخليجية رقم  
 
 
Prepared by GSO Technical Committee No. TC05  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
الثلج المعد للاستهلاك الادمي 
ICE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION  
 
 
 
 
 
I.C.S:  67:160:20  
 
هذه الوثيقة مشروع لمواصفة قياسية خليجية تم توزيعها 
لإبداء الرأي والملحوظات بشأنها ، لذلك فإنها عرضة 
للتغيير والتبديل، ولا يجوز الرجوع إليها كمواصفة قياسية 
خليجية إلا بعد اعتمادها من الهيئة. This document is a draft G SO 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. 
 
 
    
 
  
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 issue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulations through specialized technical committees (TCs).  
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No (5) "Technical committe e for 
standards of food and agriculture products" has prepared draft update  for GSO Standard No. :                
GSO 384/ 1994 " ICE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION " The Draft Standard has been 
prepared by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  . 
This standard has been approved as  a Gulf Technical regulation by GSO Board of Directors in 
its meeting No. (), held on ) .GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
1 ICE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION  
 
1. SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION  
 This standard is concerned with ice for human consumption.  
 
2. COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES  
2.1         GSO 9 “Labelling of Prepackaged Foods”.  
2.2         GSO 21 “Hygienic Regulations for Food Plants and Their Personnel”.  
2.3         GSO 112 “Methods of Test for Drinking and Mineral Water - Part 2: Determination 
of Physical Characteristics”.  
2.4         GSO  149 “Unbottled Drinking Water”.  
2.5         GSO 116 “Methods of Test for Drinking and Mineral Water - Part 3: Determination 
of Total Dissolved Solids, pH Value and Residual Chlorine”.  
2.6         GSO 117 “Methods of Test for Drinking and Mineral Water - Part 4: Methods for the 
Determination of Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Selenium and Cyanide”.  
2.7         GSO 154 “Methods of Test for Drinking and Mineral Water - Part 7: Determination 
of Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, Silver and Barium”.  
2.8        GSO 968  Store s for frozen and chilled foodstuff -Part I:Definitions,classification and 
terminology.  
2.9         GSO 969  Stores for frozen and chilled foodstuff -PART 2: General requirements  
2.10       GSO 970  Stores for frozen and chilled foodstuff -PART3:Labelling and marking    
2.11 Other GSO standards to be approved by GSMO on the methods of test for 
drinking and mineral water ”. 
 
3. DEFINITIONS  
 Ice for human consumption: Ice produced by completely freezing potable water at 
a temperature not  exceeding ( -10)oC in differ ent shapes and sizes such as  blocks, 
cubes, shells, ... etc.  
 
4. REQUIREMENTS  
4.1             Handling, storage and service of ice  
 Without prejudice to what is stated in the GSO standard mentioned  in 2.2, the 
following shall be taken into consideration on  manufacturing ice for human 
consumption:  
4.1.1  Water used in manufacturing ice for human consumption shall comply with the 
GSO standard mentioned in 2.4.  
4.1.2  All the containers and lids used in manufacturing shall be clean and thoroughly 
washed, before use, with sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate or any other GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
2 suitable detergent solution and sanitized with water containing 50 ppm available 
chlorine, iodoform or quaternary ammonium compounds in an appropriate 
concentration, then rinsed with the same wa ter used in the manufacturing so that 
the residues of cleaning substances and sanitizers are well removed.  
4.1.3  Water used in ice manufacturing shall be placed in suitable tanks covered with 
tight-fitting lids, examined daily and cleaned properly once eve ry month using 
coarse brush with water containing 100 ppm chlorine. Then  rinsed  to remove 
washings and ventilated before reusing.  
4.1.4  Ice blocks shall be thoroughly washed with potable water as they come to the 
delivery platform prior to distribution.  
4.1.5 No person shall be allowed to enter any area where ice contacts the floor unless he 
wears clean suitable boots or shoe covering.  
4.1.6        A room in which ice is manufactured shall be used for no other purpose than the 
manufacture of ice and the pro duction of refrigeration, and may contain 
refrigeration equipment and machinery. This subdivision shall not apply to any 
food facility.  
4.1.7          Ice storage or processing areas shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary 
condition and no noxious or o ffensive odors, smoking, or other air pollution shall 
be permitted therein.  
4.1.8          Cover tops for tank cans shall have a smooth, painted, or treated surface, and shall 
be cleaned daily. Water used for cleaning shall not be permitted to drip into 
freezing cans. Only potable water  shall comply with the GSO standard mentioned 
in 2.4.  shall be used in sprays and in the thaw tanks for the removal of ice from 
cans. Water coverage tanks shall be covered and provided with filtered vents.  
4.1.9         Block  ice-loading platforms shall be washed with water as often as necessary to 
keep them in a clean and sanitary condition, but not less than once each day.  
4.1.10     Ice shall be handled only with clean tongs, ice -carrying bags, scoops, or other 
sanitary con tainers, and shall not be directly handled with bare hands.  
4.1.11       All frozen unpackaged ice blocks intended for sale for human consumption or for 
the refrigeration of food products shall be washed thoroughly with potable water  
shall comply with the GSO standard mentioned in 2.4. . Ice manufactured for 
industrial purposes need not be washed prior to shipping but shall be handled  and 
stored separately from ice intended for human consumption.  
4.1.12        Persons not directly involved in the manufacture , processing, packaging, or storing 
of ice, in the maintenance of facilities and equipment used therefore, or in the 
management, supervision, or inspection thereof, shall not be permitted in any area 
where ice is manufactured, processed, packaged, or store d, unless personal 
cleanliness and hygienic practices are taken to prevent contamination of the 
product. These areas shall have signs posted to this effect.  
4.1.13    Filter beds and any filtering equipment shall be designed to protect ice from 
contaminati on and shall be subject to periodic treatment and cleaning.  
4.1.14        All equipment and utensils used in ice production areas shall be of easily cleanable 
construction, shall be kept clean and in good repair, and shall be handled and GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
3 stored in a sanita ry manner. Materials used as ice contact surfaces shall be smooth, 
nontoxic, and nonabsorbent. Ice cans shall be leak proof and the inner surfaces of 
the containers shall be free of corrosion.  
4.1.15      Freezing tank covers shall be designed and construc ted to protect ice containers 
from splash, drip, and other contamination, shall be easily cleanable, and shall be 
kept clean and in good repair. The covers shall be equipped with rings or similar 
devices when hooks are used for pulling. Can or tank covers,  and the ledges or 
sides of the tank upon which the cover rests, shall be cleaned as often as necessary  
to keep them in a sanitary condition.  
4.1.16    Conveyor surfaces shall be of impervious material and shall protect ice from 
contaminants that may resul t from shredding, flaking, peeling, or fragmentation of 
the conveyor surface.  
4.1.17        Equipment lubrication shall not contaminate the ice and only food grade lubricants 
shall be used.  
4.1.18        All product storage and holding areas to be refriger ated shall be cleaned as often as 
necessary to keep them free of contamination.  
4.1.19       Air used for water agitation shall be filtered or otherwise treated to remove dust, 
dirt, insects, and extraneous material . Filters shall be placed upstream from t he 
compressor and shall be easily removable for cleaning or replacement.  
4.1.20         Handle ice with clean, non -breakable utensils, such as tongs or an ice scoop.  
4.1.21        Crushed, cubed, or shaved ice, intended for human consumption, shall be stor ed in 
a manner that prevents its pollution or  contamination.  
4.1.22        should not use utensils ice for other purposes that are not designed for it. 
4.2 Ice for human consumption shall meet the following requirements:  
4.2.1  Water produced by thawing sha ll comply with the GSO standard mentioned in 
2.4. 
4.2.2  It shall not shatter easily on handling.  
4.2.3  It shall be clear, colourless and free from air bubbles and white snow butts.  
 
5. SAMPLING  
 The following shall be met on sampling ice:  
5. 1 Precautions required for protecting samples, instruments and containers from 
contamination shall be taken.  
5.2 Sampling containers shall have wide openings and be made from glass or any 
other suitable material.  It shall be clean, dry and have suitable covers.  
5.3 Samples shall be taken at random using instruments suitable for shattering or 
cutting ice blocks.  Samples for microbiological tests shall be taken first and the 
instruments and containers for sampling shall be sterilized.  
5.4 Samples for detection of radioac tive elements shall be placed into polyethylene 
bags and examined immediately after collection.  GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
4 5.5 Test samples shall not be less than 2 kg for chemical and physical tests, 1 kg for 
microbiological tests, and 1 kg for detection of radioactive elements.  
5.6 Test samples shall be transferred in a suitable manner to prevent  any 
contamination and shall arrive to the laboratory completely frozen.  
5.7       The following information shall be legibly labelled on sample containers:  
–  Product name;  
– Date and time  of sampling;  
– Purpose of examination;  
– Place of sampling;  
– Name and signature of the sampler.  
6. METHODS OF EXAMINATION TEST  
6.1 All physical, chemical, microbiological tests and determination of radioactive 
elements shall be carried out on ice after t hawing inside the package at room 
temperature according to approved GSO standards mentioned in 2.8.  
6.2 Tests shall be carried out on the representative sample drawn according to item (5) 
to determine its compliance with all the items of this standard.  
 
7.  PACKAGING  
 The following shall be taken into consideration on packaging:  
 For ice packaging, the packages shall be hygienic, suitable, intact and disposable.  
 
8. LABELLING  
 Without prejudice to what is stated in the Gulf standards mentioned in (2.1) the 
following information shall be declared on the labelling:  
8.1             Product Name Ice…  
8.2             Type or shape of ice(shaved, cubed, nuggeted, and crushed).  
 
9. TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE  
 The following shall be taken into consideration on trans portation and storage:  
9.1 Transportation  
9.1.1  Transportation means shall be clean, suitable and constructed in such a manner as 
to keep ice isolated from heat sources, to reach the selling points completely 
frozen, and to protect ice from shattering and contamination during transportation.  
9.1.2  Temperature shall not exceed ( -10)oC during transportation.  
 
 
 GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
5 9.2 Storage  
 The stores shall be far from contamination sources and shall be heat isolated.  
Their temperature shall not exceed ( -10)oC. Stores and se lling points what is 
stated in the  gulf standards (2.8)(2.9)(2.10).   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO STANDARD  GSO …/2017  
 
6  
 
Reference:  
- California Legislative Information , HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION  
110970 -111010  
- FDA Regulates the Safety of Packaged Ice . 
- Food an d Environmental Hygiene Department  Hong Kong  Guidelines on Hygienic 
Production  and Handling of Ice in Food Premises .