EAS 144: 2017 
ICS 67.160.10  
© EAC 201 7                                                                                                                         third Edition 2017 
 
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
Neutral spirit ― Specification 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY EAS 144: 2017 
ii © EAC 2017 – All rights reserved
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 DEAS 144: 2017 
© EAC 2017 – All rights reserved  iii
 Foreword 
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
In order to achieve this objective, the Community established an East African Standards Committee mandated 
to develop and issue East African Standards.   
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. 
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 .  
FDEAS 144 was prepared by Technical Committee EASC/TC 007, Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition EAS 144:2000, of which has been technically 
revised. 
 EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  EAS 144: 2017
 
© EAC 2017 – All rights reserved 1 
 Neutral spirit ― Specification 
1 Scope 
This final draft East African 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 dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
EAS 12, Drinking (potable) water — Specification  
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification 
EAS 39,  Hygiene in food and drink manufacturing industry  — Code of practice 
EAS 100,  Food stuffs — Methods of determination of Lead  
 
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall 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 (propanols) 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 from fermented carbohydrate material, purified by fractional distillation with removal of fusel 
oil and furfural  EAS 144: 2017 
2 © EAC 2017 – All rights reserved
 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 requirements 
Neutral spirit shall comply with the quality requirements specified in Table 1. 
Table 1 ― Quality requirements for neutral spirit 
Sl No Characteristic Requirement Test method 
ii) Ethanol content, percent by volume at 
20 C, min. 96 
EAS 104 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. 10 
ix) Furfural content To pass the test 
x) Aldehydes (as acetaldehyde), mg/ L, 
max. 5 
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 EAS 39. 
7 Weights and measures 
The volume and fill of neutral spirit shall comply with the weights and measures regulations of Partner States 
or equivalent legislation. DEAS 144: 2017 
© EAC 2017 – All rights reserved  3
 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 containers 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 EAS 38. 
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 EAS 104.  
 DEAS 144: 2017 
 
© EAC 2017– All rights reserved