التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليجالعربية  هيئة  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final  draft  
 
GSO  5/FDS 2138/ 2014  
 
 
 
 
عبوات الشاى والأعشاب 
Tea  and herbs bags  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ICS: 67.040.00  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tea  and herbs bags  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date of  GSO Board of Directors' Approval  :  / /143 h ( / /201 ) 
Issuing Status  : Technical regulation  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO 2138/201 4  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 issue 
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 updated the  Technical regulation  GSO 2138    
" Tea and herbs bags"  . The Draft Technical regulation  has been prepared by State of Qatar . 
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. 
(14), held on   / /143 h ( / /201 ) , will replace and supersede GSO 2138: 2011.  
 
 
 GSO 2138/201 4  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
2  Tea and herbs bags  
1-  Scope and field of application:  
 This Gulf  Technical regulation  is concerned with different types of tea bags 
(black - green - flavored) and with different herbs bags.  
2- Complementary Standards:  
2.1  GSO 9 "Labeling  of prepackaged food stuffs  " . 
2.2  GSO 21 "Hygienic  regulations for food plants and th eir personnel  " . 
2.3  GSO 150 "Expiration  periods of food products  –Part 2: Voluntary periods  " . 
2.4  GSO 1 86 "Conditions  of storage facilities for dry and canned food stuffs  " .  
2.5  GSO 839 " Food packages - Part 1: General requirements  " . 
2.6  GSO 98 8 "Limits  of radioactivity levels permitted in food stuffs - Part 1  " . 
2.7  GSO 1016  "Microbiological  criteria for food stuffs - Part 1  ". 
2.8  GSO 1694 " General rules for food hygiene  " . 
2.9  GSO/ISO 168  "Paper  and board - Sampling to determine average qu ality ". 
2.10  GSO/ISO 12625 -4, 5 "Tissue paper and tissue products - Determination of tensile 
strength ". 
2.11  GSO/ISO 534  "Paper  and board - Determination of thickness, density and specific           
Volume ". 
2.12 GSO/ISO 15320  "Pulp, paper and board - Deter mination of pentachlorophenol         
In an aqueous extract  " . 
2.13 GSO/ISO 10775  "Paper, board and pulp - Determination of cadmium content -         
Atomic absorption spectrometric method " . 
2.14  GSO/ISO11475  "Paper  and board - Determination of whiteness  " . 
2.15 GSO/ISO 287  "Paper  and board - Determination of moisture content  " . 
2.16  GSO (382,383)  "Maximum  limits for pesticide residues in agricultural and food 
products - Parts 1,2  " . 
2.17  GSO/ISO 8784 -1 " Pulp, paper and board - Microbiological examinatio n- Part 1:           
Total count of bacteria, yeast and mould based on disintegration " . 
3- Definitions :  
3.1  Tea or herbs bag: Bag for essential function of containing of tea or herbs, and 
touched the product from inside.  
3.2  Food grade matter: Permissi ble matter used in food for provided safety conditions 
in it. GSO 2138/201 4  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
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3.3  Recycling bag: A bag processed from raw materials not previously used.  
4- Requirements:  
     The following requirements shall be met in the product:  
4.1  The packed products (tea or herb s) shall comply with Gulf standards specific to 
each.  
4.2  The production shall be carried out in plants that comply with the requirements 
mentioned in Gulf standards in items (2.2, 2.8).  
4.3  The bag shall be used one time only, and does make any harmful for the consumer 
when used.  
4.4  Paper used in the processing of tea and herbs bags shall have the following 
characteristics:  
4.4.1   It shall not transfer any contrary taste to the product taste or lead to contaminant 
the fusion produced from it.  
4.4.2  It shall be produced from non -recycled materials.  
4.4.3  It shall be free from any harmful materials for public health.  
4.4.4  The maximum of emigration of cadmium, lead and mercury from  the paper to the 
final products, shall not exceed the following (mg/De cimeters2): 
     Cadmium   0.002          Lead     0.003                      Mercury       0.002  
4.4.5  Maximum content for emigrated pentachlorophenol from the paper to the product 
shall not exceed 0.15 mg/ kg paper.  
4.4.6  Moisture content of the paper shall be in the range from 6 to 10 %.  
4.4.7  Brightness of paper shall not be less than 60%. 
4.4.8 Density of the paper shall range from 12.5- 20 g/m2. 
4.4.9  Dry tensile strength in cross direction of the paper shall not be less than 2.5 N/ 15 
mm. 
 
4.4.10  Dry tensile strength in machine direction of the paper shall not be less than 12 N/ 
15 mm.  
 
4.4.11  Wet tensile strength in cross direction of the paper shall not be less than 0.8 N/ 15 
mm. 
 GSO 2138/201 4  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
4 4.4.12  Wet tensile strength in machine direction of the paper shall not be less than 1.2 N/ 
15 mm.  
4.4.13  The characteristics of the paper shall permit soluble solids of the product to 
penetrate it when put the bag in the hot water.  
4.5  Tea and herbs bags shall be closed after packing with the product with pressin g or 
thermo pressing process or with cotton threads or with metallic  staples safety for 
contact foods.  
4.6 The process of closing the bags after packing  is done well, so as not to permit loss 
of any packed product.  
4.7  The threads used either for closing the bags or for connecting between packed 
bags and paper tag shall be safety for contact foods. . 
4.8  Pesticide residues in used cotton threads  (in case of used)  shall not exceed the 
limit mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.1 6). 
4.9   Thread,  metallic clips or glue can be used for fixing the tag  and used for fixing the 
thread with the tag . 
4.10  Microbiological criteria for the product shall be complying with the Gulf Standard 
stated in Item (2.7).  
4.11  Radioactivity limits for the product shall be complying with the Gulf Standard 
stated in Item (2.6).  
5- Sampling:  
      Samples shall be taken according to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.9).  
6- Methods of examination and test:  
 The following tests shall be carried out on the sample taken according  to Item (5)    
to determine its compliance for the items of this standard:  
6.1  Determination of moisture:  
       Determination of moisture shall be carried out according to Gulf Standard stated         
in Item (2.1 5) . 
6.2  Determination of dry and wet te nsile strength:  
 Determination of dry and wet tensile strength shall be carried out according to        
Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.1 0) . 
6.3 Determination of paper density : 
      Determination of paper density shall be carried out according to Gulf St andard        
Stated in Item ( 2.11) . 
 
 GSO 2138/201 4  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
5 6.4  Determination of paper brightness : 
       Determination of paper brightness shall be carried out according to Gulf        
Standard stated in Item (2.1 4). 
6.5  Determination of pentachlorophenol : 
         Determin ation of pentachlorophenol shall be carried out according to Gulf           
Standard stated in Item (2.1 2). 
6.6  Determination of metallic elements:  
 Determination of metallic elements shall be carried out according to Gulf       
Standard Stated in Item (2. 13). 
6.7  Determination of microbiological requirements:  
        Determination of microbiological requirements for packaging paper shall be 
carried out according to Gulf Standard stated in Item ( 2.17). 
 
7- Packaging, transportation and storage:  
7.1  Packag ing: 
7.1.1  Tea or herbs bags shall be packed i n containers made of food grade firm paper  and 
safety in food contact  to protect it from damage and spoilage .  
 7.1.2         The bags used in packaging tea and herbs bags shall be clean and not allow, with            
                   any probability, of contaminant of packed  matter.  
7.1.3               Using bags shall kept of packed product characteristics, and keep it from  
                   Earning any off odor or flavors .  
7.1.4          Using bags shall  provided the protection for the packed product from  
                   Contaminant with microorganisms, insects and rodents .  
 
7.1.5  Tea or herbs bags may be packed in single paper bags, well closed with pressing,  
thermo pressing  or with metallic staples  so these paper bags shall be packed in  
food grade  containers .  
7.2  Transportation and storage:  
7.2.1  Transportation and storage of the product shall be carried out in such a way not 
lead to spoil or damage of the product  
7.2.2  Transportation and stor age of the product shall be carried out in such a way to 
avoid influence of any odor and chemical materials, and in a stores complying 
with Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.4). 
8- Labeling : 
 Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in Ite ms (2.1), (2.3)  
the following shall be declared on the label of tea or herbs:  
8.1  Number of tea or herbs bags in each container,  
8.2  Net weight for each bag,  
8.3  Product name and its trade mark.  GSO 2138/201 4  GSO STANDARD  
 
 
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