Reference number  
DRS 393 -1: 2018  
© RSB 2018  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
393-1 
 
First edition  
2018 -mm-dd 
 
Spatial application mosquito repellents — 
Specification  — 
Part 1 
Coils  
  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - 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 2018  
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 reprodu ce 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  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
iii                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Term s and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
4.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
4.2 Active ingredients  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  3 
4.2.1  Natural repellents  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  3 
4.2.2  Synthetic repellents  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  4 
4.3 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  5 
4.4 Biological efficacy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  5 
5 Packaging and labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  5 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 5 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 56 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
Annex  A (normative)  Determination of equilibrium moisture content  ................................ ................  7 
A.1 Reagent  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  7 
A.2 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
A.3 Determinatio n ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  7 
A.4 Calculation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8 
Annex  B (normative)  Determination of the weight of a single coil  ................................ .....................  9 
B.1 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
B.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9 
 DRS 393 -1: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - 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 ma in 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 393 -1 was prepared by T echnical Committee RSB/TC 015, Pharmaceutical Products.  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard : 
1) KS 654, Mosquito coils — Specification  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
DRS 393  consists of the following parts, under the general title : Spatial application mosquito repellents  — 
Specification : 
 Part 1: Coils  
 Part 2: Spray  
Part 3: Candles  
Part 4: Papers  
Part 5: Liquid vaporizers  
Part 6: Vaporizing Mats  
Part 7: Tablets  
Part 8: Liquid detergents  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Pharmaceutical Products 
(RSB/TC 015) in the preparation of this standard.  
National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)  
National Pharmacy Council (NPC)  
University of Rwanda/College of Sciences and Technology (UR/CST)  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
v                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Pharmacie NOVA  
Rwanda Development Board (RDB)  
AGROPY LTD  
IKIREZI NATURAL PRODUCTS  
HORIZON/SOPYRWA  
Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB ) 
Pharmavie  
University of Rwanda/College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR/CMHS)  
Rwanda Biomedical Center/ Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division  (RBC/MOPDD)  
Society for Family Health  (SFH) – Rwanda  
Rwanda Biomedical Center/Medical Procurement and  Production Division (RBC/MPPD)  
INES - RUHENGERI  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction  
Insecticides are used either for killing or controlling harmful insects. The insecticides which are applied for 
repelling insects are termed as “Repel lents". Mosquito is one of the most harmful insects for mankind. To destroy 
them, many preparations are available on the market in various recipes like pest killer spray, soap, oil, powder, 
repellent etc. Out of these, mosquito repellent is the most popula r as it has germicidal and disinfectant properties 
and is able to repel mosquitoes and is convenient to use.  
 
The mosquito repellent is used for warding off mosquitoes which is the most harmful insect. Nowadays, 
mosquito repellents are used for controlling  mosquito and are becoming most preferably than  other mosquito 
destroyers gradually. With the rise in the standard of living, increasing urbanization and population, the demand 
of mosquito repellent mat is constantly increasing particularly in tropical pla ces. It is a convenient method for 
protection against mosquito, so it has a tremendous market potential. Thus , there is a very good scope for 
development of such units in the country . 
Spatial repellent are chemical products designed to be 'active' (requiring heat or electricity) or 'passive' (requiring 
no heat or electricity) and  release volatile chemicals into the air  within the treated space. Product examples that 
are currently availa ble include mosquito coils, spray, candles , papers, liquid vaporizers, vaporizing mats, tablet s, 
liquid detergents, among others . However, many more  types of spatial repellent products are waiting to 
be developed.   
Spatial repellents elicit ‘spatial repell ency’ which refers to a range of insect behavio urs induced by airborne 
chemicals that result in a reduction in human -mosquito contact.  These behavio urs include: movement a way 
from a chemical stimulus, attraction -inhibition and/or, and feeding inhibition.  
 
 DRS 393 -1: 2018  
1                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Spatial application mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 1: Coils  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda S tandard prescribes the requirements , sampling  and methods of test for spatial application 
mosquito repellents formulated and prepared as  coils.  
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 337 -2, Mosquito repellents ― Specification ― Part 2― Coils containing allethrin  
RS 91 , Labelling and marking of pharmaceutical products — Specification  
RS 191,  Refined pyrethrum concentrate ― Specification  
AOAC 973.12, d-trans -Allethrin in pesticides formulations  
CIPAC 741, Determination of transfluthrin  content  
CIPAC 743 , Determination of prallethrin (etoc) content  
CIPAC 993, Determination of Metofluthrin (S1264)  
CIPAC 742, Determination of d -allethrin  
CIPAC 977, Determination of Meperfluthrin   
DRS 394 -2, Mosquito repellents ― Performance Test Guidelines  ― Part 2: Spatial repellents  
RS ISO 24153, Random sampling and randomization procedures  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in RS 337-2 and the following apply.  
3.1 
mosquito   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  2 
 any of numerous arthropod animals of the class mosquito, having an adult stage characterized by three pairs 
of legs and a body segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen and usually having one or two pairs of wings. 
Mosquito include flies, crickets, insects, beetles, butterflies, and  bees  
3.2 
mosquito repellent  
substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages mosquito  (and arthropods  in general) 
from landing or climbing on that surface  
3.3 
natural repellents/biopesticides  
repellents that contain natural, plant -based active ingredients  
3.4 
synthetic repellents  
conventional repellents containing synthetic chemical active ingredien ts and carrier synthetic chemical 
compounds as approved by a competent authority  conventional  
3.5 
Transfluthrin  
(1R,3S)-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl) -2,2-dimethyl -1-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid  (2,3,5,6 -tetrafluorophenyl)methyl 
ester  
3.6 
Etoc  
Prallethrin. (S)-2-methyl -4-oxo-3-prop-2-ynylcyclopent -2-enyl(1R) -cis, trans -2,2-dimethyl -3-(2-methylprop -1-
enyl) cyclopropanecarboxylate  
3.7 
Metofluthrin  
C18H20F4O3 , 2,3,5,6-Tetrafluoro -4-(methoxymethyl)benzyl 2,2 -dimethyl -3-(prop -1-en-1-yl) 
cyclopropanecarboxylate  
3.8 DRS 393 -1: 2018  
3                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 d-Alethrin  
(RS)-3-allyl-2-methyl -4-oxocyclopent -2-enyl (1R) -cis, trans -chrysanthemate  
3.9 
meperfluthrin  
C17H16Cl2F4O3, [2,3,5,6 -tetrafluoro -4-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]methyl (1R,3S) -3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl) -2,2-
dimethylcyclopropane -1-carboxylate  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General  
4.1.1 The product shall be in the form of a pair of separable coils.  
4.1.2 The product shall consist of active ingredient (s)  together with organic fillers capable of smouldering 
well, a binder and additives such as synergists  and dye and fungicid e, formulated in the form of a coil.  
4.1.3 The product  shall burn without producing any flame except at the beginning, and shall be readily 
extinguishable after ignition . 
4.1.4 Upon ignition, the product shall produce smoke that is capable of repelling insects  
4.1.5 The product shall be provided with a mosquito coil stand which shall be made of a thin metal plate or 
any other suitable non -inflammable material which is able to support a mosquito coil by itself.   
4.1.6 The product  shall be stable and shal l not be easily toppled.  
4.1.7 The product  shall remain intact after being dropped from a height of 1.5 metres with the pla in of the 
coil horizontal to a smooth concrete surface.  This is to ensure that the coils are not unduly brittle so as to 
prevent eas y breakage when handled.  
4.2 Active ingredients  
4.2.1  Natural repellents  
4.2.1.1  Active ingredients used in natural repellents shall be natural plant based compounds such as essential 
oils or any other  plant extract approved as mosquito repellents.  
4.2.1.2 The manufacturer  shall provide adequate data on the repellence /efficacy  of such ingredients /product . 
4.2.1.3 The manufacturer  shall have adequate data justifying the proportion of ingredient(s) for which claims 
are made, used in the product.   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  4 
 4.2.1.4 The essent ial oils  and plant extracts  used in natural repellents shall be, but not limited to:  
a) Cedarwood oil ; 
b) Tea tree oil ; 
c) Geranium oil ; 
d) Rosemary oil ; 
e) Lemongrass oil ; 
f) Citronella oil ; 
g) Soybean oil;  
h) Eucalyptus oil ; and  
i) Cinnamon oil . 
j) Neem oil  
4.1.2.5 The proportion of  single or blended essential oil in natural repellent shall be set by the manufacturer in 
accordance with specific standard  of the essential oil used  and records shall be availed.  
4.1.2.6 Pyrethrum extracts such as pyrethrin s shall be considered in natural  repellents. The limits of pyrethrin s 
in natural repellents shall not be less than 0.5 % and the extract used shall meet the requirements of RS 191.     
4.2.2  Synthetic repellents  
4.2.2.1  Synthetic repellents shall contain synthetic chemical compounds which are able to discourage 
mosquitoes and send them flying or crawling away.  
4.2.2.2  If the synthetic chemical compound is blended with other active ingredient (s), either natural or 
synthetic, the proportion shall be set by the manufacturer based on scientific re search and records shall be 
availed.  
4.2.2.3  Active ingredients and their content in synthetic repellents shall meet the requirements prescribed in 
table 1.  
Table 1 — Active ingredients content for synthetic repellents  
S/N Active ingredient  Limits  (%, w/w)  Identification 
method  
2 Transfluthrin , max  1 CIPAC 741  
3 Etoc,  0.5 – 1.5 CIPAC 743  
4 Metofluthrin  (S1264)  1.82 CIPAC 993  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
5                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 5 d-Alethrin  (Pynamin Forte), max  0.5 CIPAC 742  
6 Meperfluthrin ,  max 0.05 – 0.1 CIPAC 977  
 
4.2.2.4  Synthetic repellents and their active ingredients shall be approved and registered by competent 
authority  before being released to the market . 
4.3 Specific requirements  
The product shall comply with the specific requirement s given in table 1 when tested in according to the methods 
described therein.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for mosquito coils  
S/N Parameter  Requirement s Test method  
1 Moisture content  120 Annex A  
2 Average weight,  g 24 Annex B  
3 Length,  cm, min  70 RS 337 -2 
4 Burning time  6h 
5 Strength of coil, g  120 
6 Separation of twins, max  3 
4.4 Biological efficacy  
When tested in accordance with DRS 394 -2, the vapour in the normal course of burning of the mosquito coils 
shall repel  100 % of the mosquitoes available in space, after protection time indicated by the manufacturer . 
5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
5.1.1 Mosquito coils shall be packaged in a container which offers sufficient protection from breakage and 
contamination of the coils. Each unit container shall contain at least one mosquito coil stand.  
5.1.2 The mosquito coil stand shall be made of metallic material or other suitable non -inflammable material  
which can hold the burning coil horizontally till the total length is burnt.  
5.2 Labelling  
The containers shall be securely closed and in addition to the  labelling requirements of RS 91 , the following 
information shall be indelibly and legibly marked on the container:  
 
a) name of the product ; 
b) name and full address  of the manufacture;   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  6 
 c) batch number;  
d) date of manufacture  and expiry ; 
e) total number of  coils in the box;  
f) active ingredient  content, percent (%,m/m);  
g) protection time;  
h) net mass of content ; 
i) directions for use;  
j) Safety caution ; 
k) special population  whose exposure is prohibited  (children and pregnant women) ; 
l) out of reach of children; and  
m) storage conditions.  
6 Sampling  
Random samples of the product shall be drawn for test in accordance with RS ISO 24153 from the market, 
factory or anywhere else.  
 DRS 393 -1: 2018  
7                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Determination of equilibrium moisture content  
A.1 Reagent  
Toluene or a  mixture of tolu ene and xylene  (1:1) 
A.2 Apparatus  
A.2.1  The Dean and Stark apparatus, as shown in figure 1 shall be used.  The apparatus consists of the 
following:  
a) round -bottom flask;  
b) tap;  
c) condenser; and  
d) receiving tube, graduated in 0.1 ml . 
The above apparatus is joined together by ground glass joints.  
A.2.2  Source of heat  
a) electric heater with rheostat control; or  
b) oil-bath 
A.3 Determination  
A.3.1  Cleaning of apparatus  
Clean the receiving tube and the condenser with chromic acid cleaning mixtur e.  Thoroughly rinse with water 
and dry in the oven.  
A.3.2  Preparation of reagent  
Shake a suitable quantity of reagent with a small quantity of distilled water.  Separate the water and distil the 
reagent.  
C.3.3  Procedure   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  8 
 Take an accurate amount of sample as indicated in appendix C, weighing 50g.  Transfer the sample into round -
bottom flask.  If the substance is likely to cause bumping, add enough dry, washed sand or other suitable dry 
material to cover the bottom of the fl ask. Connect the apparatus and fill the receiving tube with the reagent 
poured through the top of the condenser.  Heat the flask gently first and when the regent begins to boil, distil at 
the rate of 2 drops per second until most of the water is has passed  over.  Then, increase the rate of distillation 
to about 4 drops per second.  Reflux for about 5 hours.  Allow tocool and ensure that any droplets of water 
adhering to the sides of the receiving tube are removed. When water and reagent separated completely , read 
the volume of the entrained water in millilitres.  
A.4  Calculation  
 Moisture in samples =𝑉
𝑊 𝑥 100 
 Where,  
  V = volume in ml entrained water in receiving tube.  
  W = Weight in g of the sample  
 
  DRS 393 -1: 2018  
9                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Determination of the weight of a single coil 
B.1 Apparatus  
Analytical balance with an accuracy of 0.1 g  
B.2 Procedure  
Separate the mosquito coils and weigh them on the balance.  Report the average weight of two coils as the 
weight of a single coil.  
 
  
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  10 
 Bibliography  
[1] Manual on development and use of FAO  and WHO specifications for pesticides, November 2010, 2nd 
Edition.  
 
 DRS 393 -1: 2018  
1 ICS 65.100  
 
 
©RSB 2018 - All right s reserved