Reference number  
DRS 92: 2017  
© RSB 2017  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
92 
 
Second edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
Mineral oil for cosmetic industry — 
Specification  
 
  DRS 92: 2017  
©RSB 2017  - 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  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2017  
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 R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 252 586103/ 582945  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   RS 92: 2017  
iii                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
4 Type s ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
5 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  3 
6 Packaging and labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
6.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  4 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 5 
Annex  A (normative)  Test for carbonizable substances  ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
A.1 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
A.2 Reagents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
A.3 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
A.4 Results  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  7 
Annex  B (normative )  Test for ultra violet absorption  ................................ ................................ ...........  8 
B.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  8 
B.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 8 
Annex  C (normative)  Stability test  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  10 
C.1 Apparatus  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 10 
C.2 Procedure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 10 
 DRS 92: 2017  
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, 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 ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 92 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 011, Cosmetics, toiletries and surface active agents . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard s: 
1) KS 03 -796, Specification for mineral oil for cosmetic industry  
2) IS 7299, Mineral oil for cosmetic industry – Specification  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second edition cancels  and replaces the first edition (RS  92: 2006 ), of which has been  technically revised.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Cosmetics, toiletries and surface 
active agents (RSB/TC 011) in the preparation of this standard.  
ALYVO Rwanda Ltd  
Better Home Ltd  
EDEN BUSINESS CENTER Ltd  
Health Care Pharmacy  
Kacyiru Hospital (KH)  
Ministry of Health (MoH)  
National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)  
Pharmacie Conseil  
Pharmacie Nova  RS 92: 2017  
v                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 Private  Sector Federation/Beauty Makers Association (PSF)  
Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)  
Rwanda Dermatology Society (RDS)  
Rwanda National Police (RNP)  
SULFO Rwanda Industries Ltd  
The Ihangane Project (TIP)  
University of Rwanda — College of Science and Technology (UR — CST)  
ZIRUMUZE  Cooperative  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 92: 2017  
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction   
Oils and fats are among the most important cosmetic ingredients and are frequently used for a variety of external 
applications. They can be used directly as skin and hair care products but also as the basic substances for the 
manufacture of cosmetic products. Many of the cosmetic and hair care products on the market today rely on 
hydrocarbon molecules, derived from either mineral or vegetable oils, to provide antistati c, plasti ciser and 
viscosity properties.  
Due to their excellent skin tolerance, their distinct caring and protecting properties as well as their high cleansing 
performance, mineral oils are particularly well suited for many cosmetic products. Moreover, they have film -
forming and hydrophobic properties.  In lipsticks mineral oils support, for instance, gloss formation. Moreover, 
they can provide the cosmetic product with a certain solidity and protect the skin from the loss of moisture. 
Substances which ar e similar to mineral oils have also been shown in the human skin or in natural fats and 
waxes as well as in plant oils and beeswax.  
Mineral oil is a common ingredient in baby lotions, cold creams, ointments and cosmetics. It is a light  weight 
inexpensive o il that is odorless and tasteless. It can be used on eyelashes  to prevent brittleness and breaking 
and, in cold cream , is also used to remove creme make -up and temporary tattoos. One of the common concerns 
regarding the use of mineral oil is its presence on several lists of comedogenic  substances. These lists of 
comedogenic substances were developed many years ago and are frequently quoted in the dermatological 
literature. The type of highly refined and purified mineral oil found in cosmetic and skincare products is non -
comedogenic (does  not clog pores).  
 RS 92: 2017  
1                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 Mineral oil for cosmetic industry  — Specification  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard prescribes the  requirements, sampling and test methods for mineral oil for cosmetic 
industry.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated r eferences, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS EAS 346, Labelling of cosmetics — General requirements  
EAS 846, Glossary of terms relating to the cosmet ic industry  
ISO 3448, Industrial liquid lubricants — Classification  
RS 278, Cosmetics – Method of sampling  
EAS 847 -9, Cosmetics – Analytical methods – Part 9: Determination of colour  
EAS 847 -15, Cosmetics  – Analytical methods – Part 15: Determination of as h content  
EAS 847 -16, Cosmetics — Analytical methods — Part 16: Determination of lead, mercury and arsenic content  
RS ISO 3104, Petroleum products — Transparent and opaque liquids — Determination of kinematic viscosity 
and calculation of dynamic viscosity  
RS 278, Cosmetics – Methods of sampling  
RS ISO 24153, Random sampling and randomisation procedures  
ISO 4320, Non-ionic surface active agents -- Determination of cloud point index -- Volumetric method  
ASTM D5002 – 16, Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Crude Oils by Digital Density 
Analyzer  
ISO 3657, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Determination of saponification value  
EAS 847-21, Cosmetics  - Analytical methods – Part 21: Determination of free acid in oils   
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  2 
 EAS 847 -22, Cosmetics – Analytical methods – Part 22: Determination of sulphur and sulphides in oils  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in EAS 846 and the following apply.  
3.1 
mineral oil  
or paraffin oil is any of various col orless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes  from a mineral  source, 
particularly a distillate of petroleum . 
4 Types  
The types of mineral oil shall be as per ISO viscosity grading number ISO 3448, as tabulated in Table 1. There 
shall be three types of mineral oil, namely, light, medium and heavy.  
  RS 92: 2017  
3                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 Table 1: ISO Viscosity classification in accordance with ISO 3448  
ISO Viscosity 
Grading (ISO VG)  Mid-point Kinematic 
Viscosity cSt at 40 ºC  Kinematic viscosity limits at 
40 ºC  
  Min. Max.  
ISO VG 2  2.2 1.98 2.42 
ISO VG 3  3.2 2.88 3.52 
ISO VG 5  4.6 4.14 5.06 
ISO VG 7  6.8 6.12 - 
ISO VG 10  10 9.00 11 
ISO VG 15  15 13.5 16.5 
ISO VG 22  22 19.8 24.2 
ISO VG 32  32 28.8 35.2 
ISO VG 46  46 41.4 50.6 
ISO VG 68  68 61.2 74.8 
ISO VG 100 100 90.0 100 
ISO VG 150  150 135 165 
ISO VG 220  220 198 242 
ISO VG 320  320 288 352 
ISO VG 460  460 414 506 
ISO VG 680  680 612 748 
ISO VG 1000  1000  900 1100  
ISO VG 1500  1500  1350  1650  
NOTE  Conversion:  
1 cSt = 1mm2/s = 10 -6m2/s 
           1 Pa.s = 1 cPs = 1cSt x density 
5 Requirements  
5.1 Description , the material shall consist wholly of highly refined mineral oil, free from turbidity, sediment, 
water, foreign matter and visible impurities. It shall be colourless, odourless, and free from fluorescence. The 
material shall be immiscible in water and alc ohol, and in ether and chloroform.  
5.2 Colour , the colour of oil shall not be inferior than 1.2Y+0.3R Lovibond units  when measured in 18 inch 
cell according to the method prescribed in EAS 847 -9.  
5.3 The mineral oil shall also comply with the requirements given in Table 2 when tested according to the 
method referred therein.  
   
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  4 
 Table 2 — Requirements for mineral oil for cosmetic industry  
S/N Characteristic  Requirement  Method of test  
(i) Cloud point, ºC , max.  5.0 ISO 4320  
(ii) Odour  
  at room temperature  None  _ 
when heated at 95 ºC to 98 ºC for 30 
min in a water bath.  Not objectionable  
(iii)  Viscosity at 40 ºC to 0 ºC  
 Light  8 to 30   
RS ISO 3104  Medium  31 to 63  
Heavy  64 and above  
(iv) Relative density at 25 ºC  0.815 to 0.910  ASTM D5002 – 16 
(v) Free acid and alkali  To pass the test  EAS 847 -21 
(vi)  Saponification value  Nil ISO 3657  
(vii)  Sulphur and sulphides  To pass the test  EAS 847 -22 
(viii)  Carbonizable substances  To pass the test Annex A 
(ix) Ash, % by mass, max.  0.01 EAS 847 -15 
(x) Arsenic (As 2O3), ppm, max.  2.0 EAS 847 -16 
 (xi) Lead, ppm, max  20 
(xii) Ultra violet absorption test, extinction, max . 0.5 Annex B 
(xiii) Stability test  To pass the test  Annex C 
6 Packaging and labelling  
6.1 Packaging  
The product  shall be packed in suitable containers  which does not react or denaturize the content . 
6.2 Labelling  
Each container shall be suitably marked with the following information:  
a) name “Mineral oil” and the grade;  
b) name of the manufacturer, or his registered trademark;  
c) batch or code number;  
d) volume of contents , and  
e) storage conditions . RS 92: 2017  
5                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 7 Sampling  
Unless otherwise specified in commodity specifications, samples shall be drawn in accordance with RS 278 . 
  
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  6 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Test for carbonizable substances  
A.1 Apparatus  
A.1.1 Test tubes,  as shown in Figure 1, of heat -resistant glass fitted with a well -ground glass stopper, the 
stopper and the tube bearing identical and indestructible numbers. The tube shall be 140 ± 3 mM in length and 
14 ± 1 mM in outside diameter, and shall be calibrated at the 5.0 ± 0.2 mL liquid levels. The capacity of the tube 
stopper inserted shall be 16 ± 0.1 mL. A rolled edge may be provided for suspending the tube on the cover of 
the water -bath.  
A.1.2 Water -bath,  a water -bath suitable for immersing the test -tube above the 10 mL line and equipped to 
maintain a temperature of 100 ºC ± 0.5 ºC. The bath shall be provided with a cover of any suitable material with 
holes approximately 16 mM in diameter through which t he test tubes may be suspended.  
A.1.3 Colour comparator,  a colour comparator, of suitable type for observing the colour of the acid layer in 
comparison with the reference standard colour solution. The size and shape of the comparator are optional but 
the size and shape of the apertures shall conform to the di mensions prescribed in Figure 1 . 
A.2 Reagents  
A.2.1 Concentrated sulphuric acid,  nitrogen -free, which is tested as follows: Dilute a small amount of the 
acid with an equal volume of water and superimpose 10 mL of the cooled liquid upon diphenylamine solution (1 
g of diphenylamine in 100 mL of concentrated sulphuric acid). Blue colour should not appear at the zone of 
contact for 1 h.  
A.2.2 Cobaltous chloride solution, 5 N,  dissolve about 65 g of cobaltous chlorid e (CoCl 2.6H 2O) in enough 
dilute hydrochoric acid (1:39) to make 1000 mL of solution. Transfer exactly 5 mL of this solution to a flask; add 
16 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (1:5) and 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide. Boil for 10 minutes, cool and add 2 g 
of pot assium iodide and 20 mL of sulphuric acid (1:4). When the precipitate has dissolved, titrate the liberated 
iodine with 0.1 N sodium thiosulphate solution using starch as indicator. Each mL of sodium thiosulphate solution 
consumed is equivalent to 0.023799 g of CoCl 2.6H 2O. Adjust the final volume of cobalt chloride by the addition 
of dilute hydrochloric acid (1:39) so that 1 mL contains 59.5 mg of CoCl 2.6H 2O. 
A.2.3 Ferric chloride solution, 0.5 M,  dissolve about 55 g of ferric chloride (FeCl 3.6H 2O) in enough  diluted 
hydrochloric acid (1:39) to make 100 mL of solution. Transfer exactly 10 mL of the solution to a flask, add 5 mL 
of concentrated hydrochloric acid, 25 mL of water and about 3 g of potassium iodide. Stopper and allow the 
mixture to stand for 5 minu tes. Dilute the mixture with 50 mL of water and titrate the liberated iodine with 0.1 M 
sodium thiosulphate solution using starch solution as indicator. Each mL of 0.1 M thiosulphate solution is 
equivalent to 0.02703 g of FeCl 3.6H 2O. Adjust with hydrochlor ic acid so that 1 mL contains 45.0 mg of 
FeCl 3.6H 2O. 
A.2.4 Cupric sulphate solution, 0.5 M, dissolve about 65 g of CuSO 4.5H 2O in enough hydrochloric acid 
(1:39) to make 1000 mL of solution. Transfer exactly 10 mL of this solution to a flask, add 50 mL of w ater, 4 mL 
of acetic acid, and 3 g of potassium iodide. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 min, then titrate the liberated iodine RS 92: 2017  
7                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 with 0.1 M thiosulphate solution, using starch as indicator. Each mL of 0.1 M thiosulphate solution is equivalent 
to 0.02497 g o f CuSO 4.5H 2O. Adjust the final volume of copper sulphate solution by the addition of diluted 
hydrochloric acid (1:39) so that 1 mL contains 62.4 mg CuSO 4.5H 2O. 
A.2.5 Reference colorimetric solution,  prepare a reference standard pale amber solution for colo ur 
comparison by mixing together 1.5 parts of cobalt chloride solution, 3.0 parts of ferric chloride solution and 0.5 
parts of the copper sulphate solution. Measure 5 mL of this mixture into a test tube as specified in C.2.1.  
A.2.6 This pale amber referenc e standard shall then be overlai d with the 5 mL of mineral oil.  
A.3 Procedure  
A.3.1 Clean a test tube with a chromic acid cleaning solution, rinse with tap water followed by distilled water, 
and dry in an oven at 105 ºC for 1 h.  
A.3.2 Fill the test tube to the  5 mL mark with sulphuric acid (94.7  % ± 0.2  %). Then add the oil to be tested to 
the 10 mL mark, insert thhe stopper loosely, and place the test tube in position in the water bath at  100 ºC ± 0.5 
ºC. 
A.3.3 After the test tube has been in the water -bath for 30 sec, loosen the stopper sufficiently to release any 
pressure and re -insert, remove the test tube from the bath quickly, hold with a finger over the stopper, and give 
three vigorous, vertical shakes over an amplitude of about 12 cM, shaking the test tube quickly and at a rate 
corresponding to 5 shakes per second. Repeat every 30 sec. Do not keep the test tube out of the bath longer 
than 3 sec for each shaking period.  
A.3.4 At the end of 10 min from the time the test tube was first placed in the bath, remove the test tube and 
allow to stand in the room for not less than 10 min, nor more than 30 min. Note any discolouration of the oil 
layer. Place the test tube in the colour comparator and compare the acid layer with 5 mL of the standard 
colorimetric sol ution and 5 mL of the sample mineral oil in the test tube that has been shaken vigorously for 10 
sec and allowed to stand just long enough for the contents to separate into two layers.  
A.4 Results  
A.4.1 The mineral oil shall be reported as passing the test onl y when the oil layer shows no change in colour 
and when the acid layer is not darker than the reference standard colorimetric solution.  
A.4.2 If the oil layer is discoloured or if the acid layer is darker than the reference standard colorimetric 
solution, the mineral oil shall be reported as not passing the test.  
NOTE  A bluish haze in the oil layer should not be interpreted as a change in colour.  
   
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  8 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Test for ultra violet absorption  
B.1 General  
B.1.1  The extent to which radiation is absorbed in pass ing through a layer of an absorbing substance is 
expressed in terms of the extinction, E. This purely optical quantity is defined by the expression:  
E = log 10 (I0 / I); 
where, 
I0 is the intensity of the radiation passing into the absorbing layer ; and 
I the intensity of t he radiation passing out of it.  
B.1.2 For a solution of an absorbing solute contained in an absorption cell having flat parallel optical faces, 
results are evaluated by the expression:  
E1%, 1 cM = (E/c) . I;  
where,  
c is the concentratio n of absorbing solute expressed as a percentage (m/v) ; and  
I the thickness of the absorbing layer in centimetres.  
B.1.3  Therefore, E 1 % 1 cM is the extinction of a 1 cM layer of 1  % (m/v) solution of the absorbing solute, its 
value at a particular wavelen gth in a given solvent being a property of the solute.  
B.2 Procedure  
B.2.1  In measuring the extinction of a solution at a given wavelength, the extinction of the solvent cell and its 
contents shall not exceed 0.4 per cM of path length, and shall in general be less than 0.2 per cM of path length, 
when measured with reference to air at the same wavelength. The solvent cell shall be of the same batch as 
that used to prepare the solution and shall be free of fluorescence at the wavelength of measurement. 
Statements  of concentration and thickness of the solution to be used in the determination of the light absorption 
apply to measurements made with photoelectric instruments. When such details are not given or when 
measurements are made by a photographic or visual ins trument, the concentration and thickness of solution 
shall be adjusted so that the measured extinction lies within the optimum working range of the apparatus.  RS 92: 2017  
9                ©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved  
 B.2.2   For this test it is more convenient to use a recording instrument, a 1 cM layer of 2.0% (m /v) solution in 
trimethyl pentane in the wavelength range of 240 to 280 μM. If these conditions are not appropriate for a 
particular instrument, the thickness should be varied – not the concentration.  
B.2.3   When measuring the extinction of an absorption m edium the spectral slit width shall be small compared 
with the half width of the absorption band, otherwise erroneously low extinctions will be measured. Particular 
care is needed in this respect and the instrumental slit width used should always be such t hat a further reduction 
does not result in an increased extinction reading.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
©RSB 2017  - All rights reserved                  10 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Stability test  
C.1 Apparatus  
Ultra violet lamp.  
C.2 Procedure  
C.2.1 Take 50 mL of the material in a clean beaker,  place under the ultra violet lamp and expose it thus for 
a period of 6 h. Measure the colour of the oil, either in Lovibond units using 18 inch cell according to the method 
prescribed in RS 17 7-10. 
C.2.2  The m aterial shall be taken to have passed the test if the colour of the oil is not darker than:  
a) 1.2Y + 0.3R Lovibond units; or  
b) +25 Saybolt units.  
 DRS 92: 2017  
ICS 71.100.70  
 
 
©RSB 2017  - All right s reserved