ICS 67.080.01  
 
 Reference number  
DRS  206: 2020  
© RSB 2020  
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
206 
 
Second edition  
2020-mm-dd 
 
 
Watermelon  — Specification  
   
DRS  206: 2020  
©RSB 2020  - 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 2020  
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  
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E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw  DRS  206: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
5 Classification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
5.1 Class I  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  3 
5.2 Class II  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  3 
5.3 Sizing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  3 
5.4 Tolerances  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  3 
6 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6.1 Presentation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  4 
7 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  4 
8 Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
9 Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
10 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  5 
 DRS  206: 2020  
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 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with th e 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  206 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 16 on Fresh fruits and vegetables . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made t o the following standard:  
ES 1250: 2005, Watermelon — Specification  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (RS  206: 2014), which has been technically revised . 
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on  Fresh fruits and vegetables  
(RSB/TC 16) in the preparation of this standard.  
Africa Food Supply Ltd  
Enterprise Urwibutso  
FRESHCO  
Garden Fresh Ltd  
Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources ( MINAGRI ) 
National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB)  
NORELGA Macadamia  
PEBEC Ltd  
Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)  DRS  206: 2020  
v                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Rwanda Nut Company  
SORWATOM  
University of Rwanda -College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine ( UR-CAVM ) 
Rwanda  Standards Board ( RSB) – Secretariat  
  DRS  206: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Watermelon — Specification  
1 Scope    
This Draft  Rwanda Standard  specifies the requirements and sampling methods for watermelons of varieties 
(cultivars) grown from Citrullus lanatus  (Thunb.) Matsum, and Nakai to be supplied fresh to the consumer . 
This standard does not apply to watermelons  for industrial processing.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.  
CAC/GL 21, Principles for the establishment and application of microbiological criteria for foods  
RS EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods  — General requirements  
RS CODEX STAN 193, General standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed  
RS CAC/RCP 1, Code of practice — general principles of food hygiene  
RS ISO 874, Fresh fruits and vegetables — Sampling  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply. 
3.1  
damage  
any defect, bruise which affects the appearance, edibility or marketing quality of the watermelons fruits  
3.2  
firm 
not shriveled or flabby   
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 3.3 
foreign matter  
any material other than that originating from the watermelons fruit  
3.4 
intact  
not having any part removed or damaged such that it makes the fruit incomplete  
3.5 
malformed  
shape of a watermelon fruit that is not typical of the variety.  
4 General r equirements  
4.1 in all classes, subject to the special provision for each class and the to lerances allowed, the watermelon  
shall be:  
a) intact;  
b) sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is 
excluded;  
c) clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter;  
d) practically free from pests;  
e) practically fre e from damage caused by pests;  
f) firm and sufficiently ripe; the colour and taste of the flesh shall conform to a sufficient state of 
ripeness;  
g) free of any abnormal external moisture; and  
h) free of any foreign smell and/or taste.  
4.2 The development and condition of the watermelon shall be such as to enable them:  
a) to withstand transport and handling, and  
b) to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.  DRS  206: 2020  
3                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 5 Classification  
5.1 Class I  
5.1.1  Watermelons in this class shall be of good quality. They shall be:  
a) well-formed, allowing for the characteristics of the variety  
b) free of cracks and bruises.  
5.1.2  A slight defect in coloring is allowed for the paler part of the melon, which has been in contact with the  
ground during the period of growth. The stem  of the watermelon shall not exceed 5 cm in length.  
5.2 Class II  
This class includes watermelons, which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfy the minimum general 
requirements. The following defects may be allowed provided the watermelons retain their essential 
characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality, and presentation:  
a) slight defect in shape;  
b) slight defect in colouring of the rind; and  
c) slight bruising or superficial defects due in particular to mechanical impact or to damage by  parasites 
or diseases.  
5.3 Sizing  
Size is determined by the weight per unit. The minimum weight is fixed at 1.5 kg. When watermelons are 
presented in packages, the difference between the lightest and the heaviest unit in the same package shall 
not exceed 2 kg  or 3.5 kg if the lightest unit exceeds 6 kg. This relative uniformity of weight is not compulsory 
for watermelons presented in bulk.  
5.4 Tolerances  
Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each package, or in each lot for produce 
presente d in bulk, for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.  
5.4.1  Quality tolerances  
5.4.1.1  Class I  
10 % by number or weight of watermelons not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting those of 
Class II.  
5.4.1.2  Class II   
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 10 % by number or weight of watermelons satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum 
requirements, with the exception of produce affected by rotting, or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for 
consumption.  
5.4.2  Size tolerances  
For all classes: 10 % by number or weight of watermelons not conforming to the size indicated, but no more 
than 1 kg above or below the size range specified. The tolerance may in no case extend to fruit weight less 
than 1 kg.  
6 Pack aging 
6.1 The contents of eac h package, or lot for produce presented in bulk, shall be uniform and contain only  
watermelons of the same origin, variety and quality.  
6.2 In addition, in Class I, the shape and colo ur of the rind of the watermelons shall be uniform.  
6.3 The watermelons shall be pack aged in such a way as to protect the produce properly.  
6.4 The materials used inside the package shall be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing  
any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, particularly o f paper or stamps, bearing 
trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling  has been done with non -toxic ink or glue.  
6.5 Packages, or lots for produce presented in bulk, shall be free of all foreign matter. Watermelons shall  
be packed in  each container in compliance with the code of practice for packaging and transport of tropical 
fresh fruits and vegetables.  
6.6 Watermelons transported in bulk shall be separated from the floor and walls of the vehicles by a  
suitable protective material, which shall be new and clean and not liable to transfer any abnormal taste or 
smell to the fruit.  
6.1 Presentation  
The watermelons may be presented:  
a) in packages; or  
b) in bulk.  
7 Labelling  
7.1 In addition to the requirements of RS EAS 38 , each package shall bear th e following particulars, in 
letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside : 
a) name and address of the producer or supplier;  DRS  206: 2020  
5                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 b) type of the product and class;  
c) origin of produce;  
d) size (if sized) expressed in minimum and maximum weight;  
e) net weight or number of units; and  
f) date of packing.  
7.2 For watermelons transported in bulk (direct loading into a transport vehicle) the particulars specified  in 
7.1 shall appear on a document accompanying the goods, and attached in a visible position inside the 
transport vehicle:  
8 Contaminants  
8.1 The produce covered by this standard shall comply with the maximum levels specified in  RS CODEX 
STAN  193. 
8.2 The produce covered by this standard shall comply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides  
established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
9 Hygiene  
9.1 It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled  
in accordance with RS CAC/RCP1 and RS CAC/RCP 53.  
9.2 The produce should comp ly with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with CAC/GL  21. 
10 Sampling  
Sampling of watermelon shall be done in accordance with RS ISO 874.   
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 Bibliography  
 
[1] RS 206:2014 , Watermelon  — Specification  
  DRS  206: 2020  
Price based on 6 pages  
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