Reference number  
DRS 121 -1:2018  
© RSB 2018  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
121-1 
 
Second  edition  
2018 -mm-dd 
 
Energy drinks  — Specification  
  DRS 121 -1:2018  
©RSB 2018  - 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 2018  
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 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rs b.gov.rw   
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 121 -1:2018  
iii                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
5 Hygiene  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
6 Food additives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4 
7 Heavy meta l contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  4 
8 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
9 Weights and measure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  4 
10 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
 DRS 121 -1:2018  
©RSB 2018  - 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 o f technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 121-1 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 001, Non-alcoholic beverages.  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard  (s): 
1) KS 1054 -1: 2008, Energy drinks — specification — Part 1: Ready -to-use energy drinks  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
This second  edition cancels and replaces the first  edition (RS  121-1:2012 ), which has been technically 
revised.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Non-alcoholic beverages 
(RSB/TC 001) in the preparation of this standard.  
Agashinguracumu Ltd  
ASCOM Ltd  
BUGANZA Wine Ltd  
CFRDTA Ltd  
COVAPROBA Ltd  
Enterprise Urwibutso  
GUBUCO Ltd  
IMPANO Products Ltd  
INEZA Ayurvedic  DRS 121 -1:2018  
v                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 INNOPRO Ltd  
Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK BIKA Ltd)  
Life Holistic Ltd  
Nsabimana Banana Wine Ltd  
SOGONGERA Ltd  
UWSS Ltd  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
 DRS 121 -1:2018  
1                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 Energy drinks  — Specification   
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements , sampling and test methods for energy drinks . 
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 references, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the reference d document (including any amendments) applies.  
AOAC 940.17, Carbon dioxide in beer Manometric method  
AOAC 950.29 , Sucrose in non -alcoholic soft drinks  
AOAC 950.30, Sugars (reducing) in non -alcoholic beverages  
AOAC 979.08, Benzoate, caffeine and saccharin in carbonated beverages, liquid chromatographic method  
AOAC 980.19, Tin in food, Atomic absorption spectrophotometric metho d 
AOAC 986.15 , Arsenic,  Cadmium,  Lead,  Selenium,  and zinc in human and pet foods.  
AOAC 990.31, Sulfites in foods and beverages Ion Ex clusion chromatographic method  
AOAC 999.10, Lead, Cadmium,  Copper, Iron, and Zinc in foods, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry after 
microwave digestion  
RS CAC/RCP 1,  Code of practice — General principles of food hygiene  
RS EAS 38 , Labelling of pre -packag ed foods —General requirements  
RS ISO 16649 -2, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs -- Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
beta-glucuronidase -positive Escherichia coli -- Part 2: Colony -count technique at 44 degrees C using 5-
bromo -4-chloro -3-indolyl beta -D-glucuronide  
RS ISO 1842 , Fruit and vegetable products -- Determination of pH  
RS ISO 21527 -1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs -- Horizontal method for the enumeration of 
yeasts and moulds -- Part 1: Colony co unt technique in products with water activity greater than 0,95  
RS ISO 4833 -1, Microbiology of the food chain -- Horizontal method for the enumeration of microorganisms -- 
Part 1: Colony count at 30 degrees C by the pour plate technique   
©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved                  2 
 RS ISO 6579 -1, Microbiology of the food chain -- Horizontal method for the detection, enumeration and 
serotyping of Salmonella -- Part 1: Detection of Salmonella spp.  
RS 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  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 
glucose  
refined D-glucose, obtained by controlled hydrolysis of starch containing materials  
3.2 
glucose -based energy drinks  
aqueous solution of glucose mixed with acceptable food materials and may contain permitted flavours and 
food colours  
3.3 
caffeine  
all caffeine present from whatever source in a formulated caffeinated beverage  
3.4 
formulated caffeinated beverage  
energy drink which contains caffeine and may contain amino acids, vitamins and other substances, including 
other foods for the purpose of enhancing energy  and mental performance.  
3.5 
energy drink  
energy drinks shall be non -alcoholic carbonated or non -carbonated drink containing carbohydrates derivative 
(s) dissolved in potable water, with or without the addition of the ingredients  
3.6 
formulated caffeinate  energy drink  
energy drink to which caffeine has been added  DRS 121 -1:2018  
3                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 3.7 
food grade packaging material  
packaging material made of substances which are safe and suitable for their intended use and which will not 
alter the quality, safety or organoleptic properties of  the product  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
Energy drink s shall:  
a) be free from extraneous or suspended matter ; 
b) have characteristic flavour and odour ; and  
c) be free from rancid  and musty . 
4.2 Specific requirements  
Energy drinks shall comply with the requirements  given in Table 1  when tested in accordance with test 
methods specified therein . 
Table 1—Specific requirements for energy drinks  
S/N  Characteristic  Requirement  Test m ethod  
i.  Degree brix (°B) at 20°C  10.0 – 20.0 AOAC 950.29  
ii.  pH  2.6 – 3.5 RS ISO 1842  
iii.  Carbon  dioxide a), %, v/v  2.9 – 4.3 AOAC 940.17  
iv.  Sulphur dioxide  and sulphates , mg/l, max.  100.0  AOAC 990.31  
v.  Reducing sugar contents (dextrose equivalent), % 
m/m, min .  20.0 AOAC 950.30  
vi.  Benzoic or sorbic acid or their alkalines salts , mg/ l, 
max.  200 AOAC 979.08  
vii.  Caffeine  for formulated caffeinate energy drink,  
mg/l  145 - 320 AOAC 979.08  
viii.  Energy density kj/100ml  190 - 325 ISO 650  
NOTE   kilojoule (k.j) is equivalent to 0.239 calories (kcal).  
a) Applies to the carbonated drinks  
5 Hygiene  
6.1 Energy drinks shall be prepared and packaged in the premises built and maintained under hygienic 
conditions in accordance with RS CAC/RCP 1.   
©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved                  4 
 6.2 Energy drinks shall comply with the microbiological limits given in Table 2 when tested in accordance with 
test methods specified therein . 
Table 2 — Microbiological limit for energy drinks  
S/N  Microorganism  Maximum l imit Test method  
i.  Total viable counts CFU/ml 10 RS ISO 483 3-1 
ii.  Escherichia coli  CFU/ml  <1 RS ISO 16649 -2 
iii.  Salmonella spp per 25ml  absent  RS ISO 6579 -1 
iv.  Staphylococcus aureus  per ml absent  RS ISO 6888 -3 
v.  Yeast and moulds CFU/ml  10 RS ISO 21527 -1 
6 Food additives  
Food additives which may be used in the manufacture of energy drinks shall comply with RS CODEX STAN 
192. 
7 Heavy metal contaminants  
Energy drinks sha ll not contain heavy metals in amounts which can represent a hazard to human health and 
shall comply with the limits in Table  3. when tested in accordance with test methods specified therein . 
Table 3 – Heavy metals contaminant limits  
S/N  Contaminant  Maximum Limit  
(mg/ l) Test method   
i.  Lead  0.1 AOAC 999.10  
ii.  Tin  250 AOAC 980.19  
iii.  Arsenic  0.1 AOAC 986.15  
8 Packaging  
8.1. Energy drinks shall be pack ed in food grade packaging material that safeguards the integrity, quality 
and safety of the product  
8.2 The container shall be tamper -evident.  
9 Weights and measure  
The volume and fill of energy drinks shall be in accordance with national weights and measurement 
regulations.  DRS 121 -1:2018  
5                ©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved  
 10 Labelling  
10.1 In addition to the requirements specified in RS EAS 38, the following information shall be legibly and 
indelibly marked on the container : 
a) name of the product  as “Energy drink” ; 
b) name, location and physical address of the manufacturer;  
c) country of origin;  
d) list of ingredients in descending order of proportions;  
e) date of manufacture;  
f) expiry date;  
g) batch/lot number;  
h) storage condition;  
i) net volume (in metric system) and  
j) recommended servings per day.  
NOTE  These requirements also  apply to bulk packages.  
10.2 The following additional information shall also be included on the label of energy drinks  whose 
formulation includes caffeine:  
a) advisory statement to the effect that : 
1) the drink contains caffeine, and  
2) the drink is not recommended for children, expectant/breastfeeding women and individuals  sensitive 
to caffeine.  
b) declarations of the average quantities, per serving size and per 100 ml of  
1) caffeine expressed in milligrams, and  
2) the substances permitted as optional ingredients . 
10.3 If vitamins are used, t he quantities of vitamins present in the drink shall not be expressed as a portion 
or multiple of   
©RSB 2018  - All rights reserved                  6 
 a) recommended dietary intakes; or  
b) estimated safe and adequate daily intakes of that vitamin.  DRS 121 -1:2018  
ICS 67.160.20  
 
 
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