DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 1668  
First Edition  
2016 -11-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
WDUS 1668 : 2016 
© UNBS 1668   
  
Specification for Polyethylene for its safe use in contact with 
food stuffs, pharmaceuticals  and drinking water  
 DUS 1668 : 2016  
ii © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all ne cessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 20 16  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanica l, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: 256 414 505 995  
Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DUS 1668 :2016  
© UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives established under  Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food S tandards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT  Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given  field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for  comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee UNBS/TC 19 , Packagi ng and 
Packaging products  
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 1668 : 2016  
 
© UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  1 
 Specification for Polyethylene for its safe use in contact with 
food stuffs, Pharmaceuticals and drinking water  
1 Scope  
This standard specifies the requirements and methods of sampling  and test for polyethylene plastic materials  
for the manufacture of plastic  items used in contact with foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking  water . 
This standard does not cover requirements of a packaging media for a particular foodstuff and drinking water 
other than toxicological considerations . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents 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 referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
US 1659 , Packaging materials for food contact use – General requirements  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following  terms  apply . 
3.1  
low density p olyethylene (LDPE)  
a basic resin produced by the polymerisation of ethylene having nominal density in the range of 908 kg/m3 to 
923 kg/m3 at 27 0C (910 kg/m3 to 925 kg/m3 at 23 0C) 
3.2  
medium density polyethylene (MDPE)  
a basic resin produced by polymeris ation of ethylene and having nominal density in the range of 924 kg/m3 to 
938 kg/m3 at 27 0C (926 kg/m3 to 940 kg/m3 at 23 0C) 
3.3  
high density polyethylene (HDPE)  
a basic resin produced by polymerization of ethylene and having nominal density in the rang e of 939 kg/m3 to 
963 kg/m3 at 27°C (941 kg/m3 to 965 kg/m3 at 23 °C). Copolymers of ethylene with l -alkenes containing  up to 8 
carbon atoms with minimum ethylene content  of 85 %  and having nominal density of 939 kg/m3 to 963 kg/m3 
at 27°C (941  kg/m3 to 965  kg /m3 at 23 °C) also  come under this definition.  
3.4  
linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)  
A basic resin (co, ter , polymers or Quattro polymers of  ethylene with polypropylene) produced by  
polymerization of ethylene with comonomers of  l-alkene containin g up to 8 carbon atoms with a  minimum 
ethylene content of 85 percent  by mass and  having a nominal density in the range of 900 kg/m3 to 938 kg/m3 
at 270C. DUS 1668: 2016  
2 © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
 4 Requirements  
4.1 Basic resin  
4.1.1  Homopolymers of ethylene, copolymers or terpolymers of ethylene with the l -alkenes defined under 3, 
blend of homopolymers of ethylene with one or more of the copolymers/terpolymers/ quattropolymers and 
blend of several copolymers/ terpolymers/ quattropdymers of ethylene mentioned under this clause  
4.1.2  Compliance with  the list of polyethylene defined in 3 shall be made in such a way that it contains no 
residues or ingredients used in its manufacture other than those listed in 4.2, 4.3 and/ or 4.4.  
4.2 Manufacturing residues  
4.2.1  Polyethylene may contain a total of not  more than 0.2 percent by mass of ethylene and other 
hydrocarbons originating from ethylene and comonomer feed stock, aldehydes, ketones and organic 
peroxides or their decomposition products. It may also contain a total of not more than 0.2 percent by mass , 
measured by standard assay technique, of calcium, aluminium, silicon, titanium, magnesium, chromium 
(maximum 50 ppm), sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and 
petroleum hydrocarbon fractions.  
4.2.2 The residues of th e following products may constitute less than 0.3 percent by weight of the finished 
polymer:  
a) Alkyl, benzene, alkyl -benzene sulphates of sodium, potassium and ammonium, the alkyl group 
containing C 10 to C 20; 
b) Alkyl, benzene, alkyl -benzene sulphonates of sodi um, potassium and ammonium, the alkyl group 
containing C 10 to C20; 
c) Condensation products of ethylene oxide with monohydric aliphatic alcohols (C 12 to C20) and their 
sodium sulphates;  
d) Condensation products of ethylene oxide with monobasic aliphatic acids C 12 to C 20 and their sodium 
and ammonium sulphates;  
e) Condensation products of propylene oxide with monobasic aliphatic acids (C 12 to C 20) and their 
sodium and ammonium sulphates;  
f) Polyvinyl alcohols (viscosity of a 4 % aqueous solution at 20 0C should be at le ast 0.004 N·s/m² ); 
g) Magnesium; Zirconium; Vanadium; Ethoxides/Alcoxides; and C 1 to C 5 alcohols  
4.2.3  The residues of the catalyst and their products of decomposition, measured by standard assay 
technique, shall not exceed 0.2 % by mass of the finished produ cts. 
4.3 Auxiliary items for working  
The auxiliary items prescribed in Table 1 may be used to maximum level, percentage weight/weight, of the 
final product in polyethylene polymers given in 3.  DUS 1668:  2016  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  3 
  
Table 1 — Auxiliary items  
Chemical na me Maximum level of use percentage weight/weight of final 
product  
Aluminium silicate  50 
Aluminium stearate  3 
Behenic acid  1 
Benzene propanoic acid 3 -(1, 1-dime thyl ethyl) - ß (3, l-
dimethylethyl) -4-hydroxyphenyl -4 hydroxy -ß methyl -1, 2-
ethanediyl ester  0.5 
1, 4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis [2 -(1, l-dimethyl ethyl) -6-
[[3- (1, l-dimethyl ethyl )-2-hydroxy -5-methyl phenyl] methyl] -
4-methyl phenyl] ester  0.075  
1,2-Bis(3,5 -di-tert-butyl -4hydroxyhydr ocinnamoy l)-
hydrazine  - 
ß,3(or4) -Bis(octadecylthio)cycloh exylethane  0.3 
2, 6 Bis ( l -methyl heptadecyl) -p-cresol  0.3 
3,9-Bis[2 - (3-(3-tert-butyl 4-hydroxy -5-metbylphenyl) 
propionylox y]-1,l-dimethylethyl ]-2,4,8,l0  
tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecane  0.3 
5,7-bis1,1 -dimethylethyl -3-hydroxi -2(3H) -benzofuranone, 
reaction p roducts with o -xylene  0.02 
Bis(p -ethylbenzylidene)sorbitol  0.3 
2,5 bis 5’ -tert-butylbenzoxalyl (2) thiophene  0.021) 
Bis (2, 4 -di-tert-butyl phenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite 
with up to 1% tri -isopropanolamine  0.1 
N,N-Bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) alkyl (C 12-C18)amine  0.1 
2-(3’-tert-Butyl -2’-hydroxy -5‘-methyl -phenyl) -5-
chlorobenzotriazole having melting range of 137 -141°C  0.5 
Bis [2,2’ methylene bis 4 methyl  - 6-tert butyl phenol] 
terephthalate  0.1 
Butylated hydroxyanisole  0.05 
Butylated hydroxytoluene  0.2 
Butyl lactate  5 
n-Butyl stearate  5 
Butyric acid, 3,3 -bis(3 -tert-butyl -4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene 
ester  0.5 
Calcium benzoate  2 
Calcium carbonate  25 
Calcium bis [mono ethyl 3,5 -di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxybenzyl 
phosphonate ] 022) 
Calcium hydroxide  0.1 
Calci um octoate  1.5 
Calcium oxide  10 DUS 1668: 2016  
4 © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
 Calcium oxide dispersion  20 
Calcium palmitate  5 
Calcium stearate  5 
Carbon black  5 
Cyclic neopentanetetrayl bis (octadecyl phosphite)  0.25 
4,4’ Cyclohexylidenebis (2 -cyclohexyl phenol)  0.013) 
Citric acid monohydrate  0.2 
Dibenzylidene sorbitol  0.5 
2,6 Di -tert-butyl -4-ethylphenol  0.1 
2,6-Di(α-methyl benzyl) -4-methyl phenoI  0.31) 
3,5-Di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxyhydroeinnamic acid tri -ester with 
1,3,5 -tns(2 -hydroxyethyl) -5-triazine -2,4,6 -(l h, 3h, 5h) trione  1.0 
Di-tert-butylphenyl phosphonite condensation with biphenyl 
2,4-Di-tert-butylphe nyl-3,5-di-tert-butfl-4-hydroxy -benzoate  0.31) 
Dilauryl thiodipropionate  1.0 
Dimethyl dibenzylidene sorbitol  0.4 
Dk+terylthiodipropionate  1.0 
2,4-Dimethoxy -6-(-1-pyrenyl) -s-triazine  0.01 
Dimethyl succinate polymer with 4 -hydroxy2,2,6,6 -
tetramethyl l -pipendylene ethanol  0.3 
Distearyl pentaerythntol diphosphite  0.3 
N,N’ Distearoyl ethylenediamine  5 
n-Dodecanol  2 
Dolomite  24) 
Di-tert-butylphenyl phosphonite condensation product with 
bisphenyl  0.1 
Erucamide  0.2 
Epoxidised soya bean oil  0.5 
2,2’-Ethylidenebis (4, 6 -di-rerr-butylphenol)  0.05 
Fluoroelastomer  - 
Fumaric acid  2.5 
Glycerine  3.5 
Glyceryl oleate  3 
GIyceryl monostearate  3 
Glyceryl ricinoleate  3 
Glyceryl triacetate  30 
Heavy liquid paraffin  10 
Hexadecyl 3,5 -di-tert butyl -4-hydroxy benz oate 0.5 
Hydrotalcite (basic magnesium aluminium carbonate 
hydrate)  0.3 
2-Hydroxy -4-iso-oetoxy -betrzophenone  0.5 
22’-Hydroxy -3’-tert-butyl -5’-methylpheny5 -chlororo - 0.5 DUS 1668:  2016  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  5 
 benzotriazole (having menting range of 126 -132) 
2(2’-Hydroxy 5’ -methyl phenyl) berrz otriazole  0.5 
2-Hydroxy -4-n-octoxy -benzophenone  3.5 
Lauric diethanolamide  0.5 
n-lasroylsarcosine  0.45) 
Magnesium benzoate  2 
Magnesium oxide  0.05 
Magnesium stearate  1 
Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene  10 
Mannitol  2.5 
2.2’-Methylene bis (4 -methy l-6-tert-butyl phenol)  0.01 
2,2’-Metbylene bis 6 -(1-methylcyclo -hexyl) -p-cresol  0.2 
4,4’-Methylene bis (2’6 -di-tert-butyl -phenol)  0.5 
Mono & di glycerides of fatty acids  3 
7,[2 h Naphtho (1,2 -d)triazol -2-yl] 3-phenylcoumarin  0.1 
2:1 Nickel complex of 3,5-di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxy -
benzylmonoethy1phospbnate  0.3 
Non-oxidised polyethylene wax  8 
Oleamide  0.2 
Octadecyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate  0.25 
Oxidised bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) amine  0.05 
2,2’-Oxamidobis[ethyl -3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxyphenyl) 
propionate]  0.5 
Phosphorous acid, cyclic butylethyl propanediol, 2,4,6 -tri-
tert-butylphenyl ester  0.2 
Phosphoric acid, cyclic neopentane tetrayl bis(2,4 -di-tert-
butylpheyl) ester  0.1 
Poly[6 -morpholino -s-triazine -2, 4-diyl [2,2,6,6 -tetremethyl -
4-piperid y l-l)imino]  hexamethylene[2,2,6,6 -tetramethyl -4-
piperidyl)imino]  - 
Polyvinyl cyclohexane  0.1 
Pentaerythritol  3 
Polyisobutylene  5 
Polydimethyl siloxane  5 
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate  3 
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate  3 
Polyoxye thylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate  3 
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate  3 
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate  3 
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate  3 
Poly 16(1,1,3,3 -tetramethyl butyl amino) 1,3,5 -triazine -2,4-
diyl] [4 -(2,2,6,6 -tetramethyl -piperidyl) imino] -hexamethylene 
[4-(2,2,6,6 -tetmrrtethylpipetidyl) iminol  0.3 DUS 1668: 2016  
6 © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
 Polypropylene glycol  0.5 
Silicon dioxide  10 
Sodium alkylsulphonate  0.5 
Sorbitan monolaurate  3 
Sorbitan morsooleate  3 
Sorbitan monopalmitate  3 
Sorhitan monostearat e 3 
Sorbitturtrioleate  3 
Sorbitan tristearate  3 
Sodium di(p -tert-butylphenyl) phosphate  0.35 
Sodium2,2' -methylenetis(4,6 -di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate  0.3 
2-Stearamido -ethyl stearate  5 
Stearic/palmitic acid  0.2 
Stearamide  0.26) 
Styrenated p -cresol  30 
Talc 25 
Terpolymer of ethylene propylene and 1,4 hexadlene  0.2 
Tetrakis -(2,4-di-tert-butyl -phenyl) -4,4’-biphenylene 
diphosphonite  0.5 
Tetrakis -[methylene -3-(3’,5’ -difeti -butyl -4’-hydroxyphenyl) 
propionate] methane  0.25 
Thiodipropionic acid  0.1 
Titanium dioxide  20 
1,3,5 -Trimethyl -2,4,6 -tris(3,5 -di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxybenzyl) 
benzene  1 
Tri (mixed mono and dynonyl phenyl) phosphite  1 
1,3,5 -tris 4 -tert-butyl -3-hydroxy -2,6-dimethyl -benzy 1,3,5 -
triazine -2,4,6 (lh,3h, 5h) - trione  0.1 
1,3,5 -tris(3,5 -&-tert-butyl -4 
hydroxyhydrocinnamoyl)hexfiydm -s-triazine  0.1 
1,3,5 -Tris (3,5 -di-tert-butyl -4-hydroxy -benzyl) -s triazine -
2,4,6 (lb, 3h, 5h) trione  0.1 
2-12,4,8,10 -tetratis(1,1 -dimethyl) benzo [d,f] [1,3,2] -
dioxaphosphepin -6-yl]-N,N-b[2[[2,4, 8, 10 -tetrakis (l,-l-
dimethylethyl) dibenzo[d,fl[ l,3,2]dioxaphosphepin -6-
yl]oxy]ethyl]ethanamine  0.075  
Tris (2,4, di -tert-butylphenyl)phosphite  0.2 
Trisodium phosphate  0.1 
1,1,3 -Tris(2 -methyL4 -hydroxy -5-tert-butylphenyl) butane  0.251) 
Vinylidene fluoride/hexa -fluoro propylene copolymer  0.05 
Zinc benzoate  2) 
Zinc di -(2-ethylhexanoate)  1.5 
Zinc stearate  3 DUS 1668:  2016  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  7 
 l) Non-fatty food only.  
2) In polyethylene and its copolymers having density less than 940 kg/m3. 
3) Maximum thickness of article in contact with foodstuff and pha rmaceuticals shall be 0.0635 cm. 
4) Non-acidic food only.  
5) Film only.  
6) Not for food contact above 65 0C. 
 
4.4 Pigments and colorants  
The pigments and colorants used shall comply with list and limits prescribed in US 1659 . 
5 Packing and marking  
5.1 Packing 
The material shall be suitably packed in Paper/Polythene/Plastic bags (with or without liner), as agreed 
between the purchaser and the supplier, in a manner so as to ensure that the items do not become 
contaminated during storage.  
5.2 Marking  
5.2.1  Each package shall be clearly marked with the name and type of the material, month and year of 
manufacture of the material, name of the manufacturer and manufacturer’s trade mark, if any.  
5.2.2  The packages shall also carry the symbol (Fig. 1) clearly emboss ed/printed on it  
 
Figure 1 — Symbol  DUS 1668: 2016  
8 © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
 6 Sampling  
6.1 Preparation of test samples  
The method of drawing representative samples of the material and the criteria for conformity s hall be as 
prescribed in Annex B . DUS 1668:  2016  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  9 
 Annex B  
(normative)  
Sam pling of Polystyrene  
B.1 General  
B.1.1  In drawing, preparing, storing and handling samples, the following precautions and directions shall be 
observed.  
B.1.2  Samples shall not be taken in an exposed place.  
B.1.3  The sampling instrument, wherever applicable , shall be made of stainless steel or any other suitable 
material on which the material shall have no action. The instrument shall be clean and dry.  
B.1.4  Precautions shall be taken to protect the samples, the material being sampled, the sampling 
instrumen t and the containers for samples from adventitious contamination.  
B.1.5  The samples shall be placed in a suitable, clean, dry, air -tight metal or glass containers on which the 
material has no action. The sample containers shall be of such a size that they are almost completely filled by 
the sample.  
B.1.6  Each sample container shall be sealed air -tight with a stopper after filling and marked with full details 
of sampling, such as the date of sampling, the month and year of manufacture of the material, etc.  
B.1.7 Samples shall be stored in such a manner that the temperature of the material does not vary unduly 
from the normal temperature.  
B.2 Scale of sampling  
B.2.1  Lot 
In a single consignment all the packages of the same class, same type, same form and belong ing to the same 
batch of manufacture shall ‘be grouped together to constitute a lot. If a consignment is known to consist of 
packages belonging to different batches of manufacture or different forms, the packages belonging to the 
same batch of manufacture and same form shall be grouped together and each such group shall constitute a 
lot 
The packages may consist of containers of polystyrene materials, rolls, films, vials, etc.  
B.2.2  Sample size  
For ascertaining the conformity of the material to the requireme nts of this specification, samples shall be 
tested from each lot separately. The number of packages to be sampled shall depend on the size of the lot 
and shall be in accordance with Table B 1. DUS 1668: 2016  
10 © UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  
  
Table B 2 — scale of sampling  
Number o f 
packages in the 
lot Sample size  
Up to 15  2 
16 to 50  3 
51 to 100  4 
101 to 300  5 
301 to 500  6 
501 to 1000  8 
1001 and above  10 
 
NOTE  When the number of packages in the lot is less than three, all the packages shall be sampled.  
B.2.2.1  These packages  shall be selected at random from the lot and in order to ensure the randomness 
of selection, procedures given in ISO 24153  may be followed.  
B.3 Preparation of test samples  
B.3.1  From each of the packages of material selected, small portions of material sh all be drawn with the 
help of a suitable sampling instrument. The total quantity of material collected from each package shall be 
sufficient to test all the requirements given in 4.  
B.3.2  In the case of packages consisting of containers, vials, rolls or fi lms, the number of items to be 
selected from a package, for testing each of the requirements given in 4, shall be one.  
B.4 Number of tests  
Tests for determining all the requirements given in 4 shall be carried out on the individual test samples.  
B.5 Criter ia for conformity  
The lot shall be declared as conforming to the requirements of this specification if all the test results on 
individual samples meet the relevant specification requirements  
 DUS 1668 : 2016  
© UNBS 2016  – All rights reserved  11 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards  may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to th at standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 DUS 1668 : 2016    
 
ICS 71.100.01  
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© UNBS 2016 – All rights reserved