Reference number  
RS 9: 20 14 
© RBS 2014 
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  RS
9
Second  edition
2014-07-08
Vodka ▬ Specification  
  RS 9: 2 014 
©RBS 20 14 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  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RBS 2014 
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 RBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
Rwanda Bureau of Standards.  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
Tel. +250  252 586103/ 582945/ 582946  
Fax + 250 252 583305  
E-mail: info@rbs.org.rw  RS 9: 20 14 
iii                 ©RBS 20 14 All rights reserved  
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Bureau of Standards 
(RBS ) Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RBS, 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 RBS Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
RS 9 was prepared by Technical Committee RBS/TC 1 on Beverages . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
1) FDEAS 1 42: 2013, Vodka  - Specification  
2) KS 05 -613: 1990, Vodka  - Specification   
The assistance der ived from the above source s is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Beverages  (RBS/TC 1) in the  
preparation of this standard.  
COTTRACO - PROBIO  
Enterprise  URWIBUTSO   
IKIGAGE PROJECT  
SPERANZA Group Ltd  
University of Rwanda – College of Science and Technology (UR - CST)  
Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) - Secretariat  
 RS 9: 20 14 
1                 ©RBS 20 14 All rights reserved  
 
 Vodka ▬ Specification  
1 Scope  
This Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for vodka .  
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 66,  Guidelines for the use of flavourings  
CODEX STAN 192 , General standard for food additives  
EAS 100,  Food stuffs — Methods of determination of Lead  
RS 4 , Neutral Spirits for manufacture of alcoholic beverages ▬ Specificat ion 
RS CAC/RCP 1,  Code of practice –General Principle for Food Hygiene  
RS CODEX STAN 1 , Standard specification for the labelling of pre -packaged foods  
RS EAS 104, Alcoholic beverages — Methods of sampling and test  
RS EAS 123 , Distilled water — Specification  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following term  and definition shall apply.  
vodka  
potable alcoholic beverage obtained by the treatment of grain, potato, molasses spirit or spirit from any other 
fermentable carbohydrate source, with charcoal or activated carbon so as to render the product without 
distinctive character, aroma or taste; but may be flavoured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice 
(GMP).  
4 Requirements   
4.1 Ingredients  
The ingredients for vodka  shall include the following:  
a) distilled water conforming to RS EAS 123  or demineralised water;  
b) neutral spirit , if used  for blending, conforming to RS 4; and  
c) flavouring  agents,  if used, in accordance with CAC/GL 66  RS 9: 2 014 
©RBS 20 14 All rights reserved                  2 
 
 4.2 General  requirements  
Vodka shall be:  
a) free from any extraneous substances; and  
b) free from haze and particulate matter . 
4.3 Specific quality  requirements  
Vodka shall comply with the specific quality requirements specified in Table 1 when tested in accordance with 
RS EAS 104.  
Table 1 ― Quality requiremen ts for vodka  
S/N Characteristic  Requirement  
i Ethyl alcohol content, % (v/v), at 20 °C  37.5 - 45 
ii Total solids, mg/L , max  30 
iii Methyl alcohol, mg/L, max.  50 
iv Volatile acids as acetic acid, mg/L of 
absolute alcohol, max.  20 
v Esters as ethyl acetate, mg/L of absolute 
alcohol, max  100 
vi Higher alcohol as amyl alcohol, mg/L of 
absolute alcohol, max.  5 
vii Aldehydes as acetaldehyde,  
mg/ L of absolute alcohol, max.  20 
viii Furfural  To pass test  
5 Food additives  
Food additives may be used in the preparation of vodka in accordance with CODEX STAN 192 . 
6 Heavy metal  contaminants  
When tested in accordance with EAS 100  the level of lead shall not exceed 0.01 mg/L.  
7 Hygiene  
Vodka shall be manufactured and handled in a hygienic manner in accordance with RS CAC/RCP 1. 
8 Weights  and measures  
The volume and fill of vodka shall comply with national weights and measures regulations . 
9 Packaging   
9.1 Vodka shall be packaged in glass bottles of not less than 250 mL capacity .  
9.2 Vodka shall be packaged for bulk delivery and storage in containers that shall prevent contamination of 
the product and preserve its safety and quality . RS 9: 20 14 
3                 ©RBS 20 14 All rights reserved  
 
 10 Labelling  
In addition to the requirements of RS CODEX ST AN 1 , the following specific labelling requirements shall apply 
and shall be legibly and indelibly marked:  
a) common name as ‘vodka ’; 
b) name, physical location and address of manufacturer;  
c) ethyl alcohol content, % by volume;  
d) net content;  
e) a declaration by commo n name of any additives used;  
f) date of manufacture;  
g) batch identification number/code;  
h) country of origin; and  
i) statutory warnings . 
11 Sampling  and test  
Sampling and testing of vodka shall be done in accordance with RS EAS 104.  
.  RS 9: 20 14 
ICS 67.160.10  
 
 
©RBS 20 14 All rights reserved