DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARD
 DEAS 826 :2014  
ICS 67.120.30  
 
© EAC 2014 First Edition 2014  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
 
Dried fish Rastrineobola argentea  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC 2014 — All rights reserved ii  
 
Foreword 
 
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing 
requirements governing quality of products and services in East Africa. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers which are encountered when goods and services are 
exchanged within the Community will be removed.  
 
In order to meet the above objectives, the EAC Partner States have enacted an East African 
Standardization, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Test Act, 2006 (EAC SQMT Act, 2006) to make 
provisions for ensuring standardization, quality assurance, metrology and testing of products 
produced or originating in a third country and traded in the Community in order to facilitate industrial 
development and trade as well as helping to protect the health and safety of society and the 
environment in the Community . 
 
East African Standards are formulated in accordance with the procedures established by the East 
African Standards Committee. The East African Standards Committee is established under the 
provisions of Article 4 of the EAC SQMT Act, 2006. The Committee is composed of representatives of 
the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the private 
sectors and consumer organizations. Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders 
through the National Standards Bodies in the Partner States. The comments received are discussed 
and incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the procedures of the 
Community.  
 
Article 15(1) of the EAC SQMT Act, 2006 provides that “Within six months of the declaration of an 
East African Standard, the Partner States shall adopt, without deviation from the approved text of the 
standard, the East African Standard as a national standard and withdraw any existing national 
standard with similar scope and purpose”.  
 
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the 
East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of 
the standards they are implementing.  
 
© East African Community 2010 — All rights reserved* 
East African Community  
P O Box 1096  
Arusha  
Tanzania  
Tel: 255 27 2504253/8 
Fax: 255- 27-2504481/2504255 
E-Mail: eac@eachq.org  
Web: www.each.int 
                                                           
* 2010 EAC — All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for EAC Partner States’ NSBs. 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC 2014 — All rights reserved iii  
Introduction 
 
The Silver Cyprinid  (Rastrineobola argentea ) is a species of ray-finned fish in the family 
Cyprinidae, the only member of the genus Rastrineobola . It is found in Lake Victoria. Its local names 
are omena  (Kenya), dagaa  (Tanzania) and mukene  (Uganda), ndagala (Burundi) and 
sambaza (Rwanda) 
 
Being a fast-swimming and smallish pelagic fish, it has been able to withstand the ecological 
disturbance caused by the introduction of the predator fish Lates niloticus  (Nile perch) compared to 
other local species in the lake. The species is not under IUCN red list (threatened species). 
 
Lateral line lie low on the body and running along the lower part of the caudal peduncle. Cheek 
covered by thin suborbital bones. Caudal fin is yellowish. The head is integral part of the body, i.e. 
there is no neck. The body surface is generally free from projections that might offer resistance.  
 
The objective of this standard is to ensure that dried fish reach the consumer in as wholesome state 
as possible and help in enhancing exports. It will also ensure that dried Rastrineobola argentea  are of 
acceptable and good quality. 
 
This East African Standard prescribes minimum requirements for dried  Rastrineobola argentea , 
commonly known as Omena/Dagaa/Mukene/Ndagala/sambaza  
 
In the preparation of this East African Standard, the following sources were consulted extensively: 
 
KS 05-1470:1998, Specification for fresh dried rastrineobola argentea (Omena/Dagaa)  
 
Codex Alimentarius website: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/mrls/vetdrugs/jsp/vetd_q-e.jsp 
 
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service website: http://www.mrldatabase.com 
 
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/Standards 
 
European Union: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/pharmaceuticals/veterinary-use/maximum-
residue-limits/index_en.htm 
 
Assistance derived from these sources is hereby acknowledged. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC  2014 — All rights reserved    
Dried  fish Rastrineobola argentea — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope 
 
This draft East African Standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling and test for 
dried fish Rastrineobola argentea.   
 
Note: This includes common names used in EAC such as Omena/Dagaa/mukene /Ndagala  and 
sambaza).  
 
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. 
 
CODEX STAN 192  - CODEX STAN 192 -1995, General standard for food additives  
EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry ― Code of practice 
CAC/RCP 52[CD/K/521:2010] , Code of practice for fish and fishery products  
 
EAS 12,  Drinking (potable water) — Specification  
 
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification 
 
EAS 103, Schedule for permitted food additives  
 
ISO 483 3, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
microorganisms — Colony-count technique at 30 degrees C  
 
ISO 6579, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection of 
Salmonella spp.  
 
ISO 6888- 1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration 
of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 1: Technique 
using Baird-Parker agar medium  
 
ISO 6888- 2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration 
of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 2: Technique 
using rabbit plasma fibrinogen agar medium  
 
ISO 6888- 3, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration 
of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 3: Detection 
and MPN technique for low numbers  
 
ISO 7251, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection and 
enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli — Most probable number technique 
 
ISO 11290- 2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the detection 
and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes — Part 2: Enumeration method 
 
ISO 7937, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
Clostridium perfringens — Colony-count technique 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDAR D DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC  2014 — All rights reserved   ISO 270 85, Animal feeding stuffs -- Determination of calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, 
potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, arsenic, lead and cadmium by I CP-
AES 
 
ISO 16050,  Foodstuffs — Determination of aflatoxin B 1, and the total content of aflatoxin B 1, B2, G 1 
and G 2 in cereals, nuts and derived products  — High performance liquid chromatographic method 
 
ISO 6496, Animal feeding stuffs -- Determination of moisture and other volatile matter content 
 
ISO 5984, Animal feeding stuffs -- Determination of crude ash 
 
ISO 5985, Animal feeding stuffs -- Determination of ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid 
 
ISO 21527-1,  Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs -- Horizontal method for the enumeration 
of yeasts and moulds -- Part 1: Colony count technique in products wit h water activity greater than 0. 9 
 
AOAC 990.04 Mercury (Methyl) in seafood by liquid chromatography-atomic absorption spectroscopy 
(LC-AAS) 
 
 
3.0 Terms an d definitions  
  
For the purpose of this standard, the following terms an d definitions shall apply;  
 
3.1  
Dried Silver cyprinid  
whole product presented as a dried fresh water fish which has not been gutted beheaded or split and 
subsequently washed and dried 
 
3.2 
 Food grade material  
packaging material, made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use and which 
will not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or flavour to the product 
 
3.3  
Sound  
free from physiological deterioration or adulteration/contamination, that appreciably affects their 
appearance, edibility and the keeping quality of the dried fish.  
 
3.4  
Foreign matter 
any material which is not of fish origin  e.g. sand, stones, metallic chips, plant parts etc 
 
4.0  Requirements  
 
4.1 General Requirements 
 
4.1.1  Fish shall be prepared from sound fish of the designated species, which is of an acceptable 
quality and fit to be sold fresh for human consumption. 
 
4.1.2  Water used for washing the fish shall comply with EAS 12. 
 
4.1.3  After washing, the fish shall be dried either in the sun or in artificial dryers until a satisfactory 
product is obtained. 
 
4.1.4  The fish, while drying, shall be protected against contamination from dirt, sand, and insects. 
 
4.1.5  The dried fish shall have the characteristic silvery skin colour and dried fish odour. DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC  2014 — All rights reserved    
4.1.6  It shall be free from any indication of spoilage such as mouldiness, colour change. 
 
4.1.7  The product shall be free from foreign matter. 
 
 
4.2 Specific requirements 
 
 
 4.2.1 The dried fish Rastrineobola argentea  shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1 .   
 
S/N Parameter  requirement  Test 
1 Moisture, %, max.  12 ISO 6496  
2 Total ash, % max.  15  ISO 5984  
3 Acid insoluble ash, % max.  0.5 ISO 5985  
 
 
4.2.2  The dried fish shall be presented not less than 90 per cent whole. 
 
5 Hygiene   
 
5.1 The product covered by the provisions of this standard shall be prepared and handled in 
accordance with, EAS 39, CAC/RCP  52 [The product shall comply with microbiological limits given in 
table 2 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 2 — Microbiological limits for Rastrineobola argente a  
 
S/No.  Type of microorganism  Maximum limit  Method of test  
1 Salmonella  in 25 g  Absent  ISO 6579  
2 E. coli per g  Absent  ISO 7251  
3 Staphylococcus aureus CFU per  g  2 × 103g ISO 6888  
4 Total viab le count  105/g ISO 4833  
5 Clostridium perfrigens  species  Absent  ISO 7937  
6 Listeria monocytogenes  Absent         ISO 11290 -2 
7 yeast and moulds  104  ISO 21527 -1 
 
5.2 The product shall be free from any parasite which represent a hazard to health. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.0  Contaminant limits 
 
6.1 Fresh dried Rastrineobola argentea  shall comply with the contaminant limits given in Table 3. 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC  2014 — All rights reserved   Table 3 — Contaminant limits for Rastrineobola argentea  
 
 
Type of contaminant   
Maximum limit  
(mg/kg)   
Method of test  
(i) Arsenic  0.1 ISO 27085  
(vi) Lead  0.3 ISO 27085  
(vii) Cadmium  0.3 ISO 27085  
(viii) Methyl  mercury  0.5 AOAC 990.04  
 
6.2 The dried fish shall contain no more than 10 microgram per kilogram total aflatoxin of which not 
more than 5 microgram per kilogram may be aflatoxin B1 when tested in accordance with ISO 16050  
 
 
7 Pesticide residues  
 
Dried silver cyprinid ( Rastrineobola argentea ) shall comply with those maximum pesticides residue 
limits established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for similar commodities”  
 
8 Food additives  
 
Only permitted additives by CODEX STAN 192 may be used in processing of dried silver cyprinid 
(Rastrineobola argentea ) 
  
9 Weight and measures  
The fill and the weight of the product shall comply with Weight and Measures regulations of the 
importing Partner State.  
 
 
10 Packaging and labelling 
 
10.1 Packaging  
10.1.1 Dried silver cyprinid ( Rastrineobola argentea ) shall be packaged in food grade containers 
which will safeguard the hygienic, nutritional, and organoleptic qualities of the product.  
10.1.2 The containers, including packaging material, shall be made of substances which are safe and 
suitable for their intended use. They shall not impart any toxic substance or undesirable odour or 
flavour to the product. 
 
10.2 Labelling 
In addition to the requirements in EAS 38, the following specific labelling requirements shall apply and 
shall be legibly and indelibly marked: 
(i) Name of the product. 
(ii) Name and physical address of processor/packer. 
 
(iii) Net weight in grams or kilograms. 
 
(iv) Date of packaging. 
 
(v) Batch or code numbe r. 
 
(vi) Expiry date. 
 
(vii) Storage conditions. 
 
(viii) Country of origin  DRAFT EAST AFRICAN  STANDARDDEAS 826:2014  
© EAC  2014 — All rights reserved    
10.3 Nutritional labelling, nutrition and health claims may be made in accordance with EAS 799, EAS 
800 and US 801. 
 
11 Method of sampling and test 
 
Sampling and tests shall be done as per test methods described in respective tables