Reference number  
RS 4: 2014 
© RBS 2014 
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  RS
4
Second  edition
2014-07-08
Neutral spirit for manufacture of alcoholic 
beverages  — Specification  
  RS 4: 2014 
©RBS 2014 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 4: 2014 
iii                 ©RBS 2014 All rights reserved  
 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda 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 stan dards. Final Draft Rwanda Standards 
adopted by Technical committees are ratified by members of RBS Board of Directors for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
RS 4 was prepared by Technical Committee RBS/TC 1, Beverages . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s. 
1) KS 608:2001, Neutral spirit for manufacture of alcoholic beverages.  
2) FDEAS 144:20 13, Neutral spirit — Specification  
The assistance delivered from the above source is hereby acknowledged with than ks. 
Committee membership  
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 4: 2014 
1                 ©RBS 2014 All rights reserved  
 
 Neutral spirit for manufacture of alcoholic beverages — Specification  
1 Scope  
This Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements and method of sampling and test for neutral spirit intended 
for use in the manufacture or blending of alcoholic beverages.  
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For date d 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS CAC/RCP 1,  General principles for food hygiene — Code of practice  
RS CODEX STAN 1 , Labelling of pre -packaged foods  
EAS 100, Food stuffs — Methods of determination of Lead  
RS EAS 104 , Alcoholic beverages — Methods of sampling and test  
RS 2, Potable water — Specification  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply  
3.1 
alcohol  
as ethyl alcohol (C 2H5OH) 
3.2  
furfural  
aldehyde with the chemical formula C 4H3OCHO, is one of the by products of alcohol fermentation of 
carbohydrate material by microorganism present  
3.3  
fusel oil  
complex mixture of higher alcohols containing principally amyl alcohols (pentanols), butyl alcohols (butanols), 
propyl alcohols (prop anols) and traces of capryl alcohol (octan -2-ol), hexyl alcohols (hexanols), or heptyl 
alcohols (heptanols), esters, aldehydes and terpenes. It is a product of alcoholic fermentation obtained during 
distillation  
3.4  
neutral spirit  
distillate obtained fro m fermented carbohydrate material, purified by fractional distillation with complete 
removal of fusel oil and furfural   RS 4: 2014 
©RBS 2014 All rights reserved                  2 
 
 4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
Neutral spirit shall:  
a) be derived from carbohydrate materials of agricultural source;  
b) be clear, colourless and free from any suspended matter even when diluted to 20 % by volume with 
distilled water;  
c) have only the odour of pure ethyl alcohol and no secondary odour; and  
d) have only the characteristic taste of pure ethyl alcohol.  
4.2 Specific quality requir ements  
Neutral spirit shall comply with the quality requirements specified in Table 1.  
Table 1 ― Quality requirements for neutral spirit  
S/N Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
i) Specific gravity at 20 °C, max.  0.80829  RS EAS 104  
ii) Ethanol content, percent by volume at 20 °C, 
min. 96 
iii) Miscibility with water, percent  100 
iv) Alkalinity,  To pass the test  
v) Volatile acids as acetic acid, mg/L absolute 
alcohol, max.  20 
vi) Total solids, % mg/L, max.  30 
vii) Methanol content, mg/L, max.  50 
viii) Higher alcohols (fusel oils) as amyl alcohol, 
mg/L of absolute alcohol, max.  30 
ix) Furfural content  To pass the test  
x) Aldehydes (as acetaldehyde), mg/ L, max.  5 
xi) Permanganate reaction time, in minutes, 
min. 30 
5 Heavy metal contaminants  
When tested in accordance with EAS 100, the level of lead shall not exceed 0.01 mg/L.   
6 Hygiene  
Neutral spirit shall be manufactured and handled in a hygienic manner in accordance with RS CAC/RCP 1 . RS 4: 2014 
3                 ©RBS 2014 All rights reserved  
 
 7 Weight s and measures  
The volume and fill of neutral spirit shall comply with national weights and measures regulations . 
8 Packaging  
8.1 Neutral spirit shall be packaged in suitable food grade containers.  
8.2 Neutral spirit shall be packaged for bulk delivery and storage in cont ainers that shall prevent 
contamination of the product and preserve its safety and quality.  
9 Labelling  
The containers in which neutral spirit is packaged for storage or transport shall be marked in accordance with 
the provisions of RS CODEX STAN 1 . 
Markings  indicative of the inflammable nature of the material shall be clearly displayed on such containers.  
10 Sampling and test  
Sampling and testing  of neutral spirit  shall be done in accordance with RS EAS 104. 
  RS 4: 2014 
ICS 67.160.10  
 
 
©RBS 2014 All right s reserved