EAS 142: 2017 
ICS 67.160.10  
© EAC 2013                                                                                                                        Second Edition 2013  
 
FINAL DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
Vodka ― Specification 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY EAS 142: 2017 
ii © EAC 2013 – All rights reserved
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 EAS 142: 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 142 was prepared by Technical Committee EASC/TC 007, Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition EAS 142:2000, which has been technically revised. DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD EAS 142: 2017
 
© EAC 2013 – All rights reserved 1 
 Vodka ― Specification 
1 Scope 
This final draft East African Standard specifies the requirements and methods of test and sampling for vodka.  
 
NOTE: this standard cover flavoured vodka 
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. 
CODEX STAN 192 , General standard for food additives 
CAC/GL 66,  Guidelines for the use of flavourings 
EAS 12, Drinking (potable) water — Specification  
EAS 38, Labelling of pre-packaged foods — Specification  
EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry — Code of practice  
EAS 100,  Food stuffs — Methods of determination of Lead  
EAS 123 , Distilled water — Specification 
EAS 144,  Neutral spirit — Specification 
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, the following term and definition shall apply. 
vodka 
potable alcoholic beverage obtained by the treatment of grain, potato, molasses spirit or spirit from any other 
fermentable carbohydrate source, with charcoal or activated carbon or other methods  so as to render the 
product without distinctive character, aroma or taste  
4 Requirements  
4.1 Ingredients 
4.1.1 The ingredients for vodka may include the following: EAS 142: 2017 
2 © EAC 2013 – All rights reserved
 a) distilled water conforming to EAS 123 or demineralised water; 
b) neutral spirit, if used for blending, conforming to EAS 144; and 
c) flavouring agents, if used, in accordance with CAC/GL 66 
4.2 General requirements 
Vodka shall be: 
a) free from any extraneous substances; and  
b) free from haze and particulate matter. 
4.3 Specific quality requirements 
Vodka shall comply with the specific quality requirements specified in Table 1 when tested in accordance with 
EAS 104. 
Table 1 ― Quality requirements for vodka 
Sl No. Characteristic Requirement 
i Ethyl alcohol content, % (v/v), at 20 °C 
min. 37.5 
iii Methyl alcohol, mg/L, max.  50 
iv Volatile acids as acetic acid, mg/L of 
absolute alcohol, max.  20 
v Esters as ethyl acetate, 
mg/L of absolute alcohol, 
max  vodka 100 
Flavoured ? 
vi Higher alcohol as amyl 
alcohol, mg/L of absolute 
alcohol, max.  vodka 5 
Flavoured ? 
vii Aldehydes as acetaldehyde,  
mg/ L of absolute alcohol, 
max.  vodka 20 
Flavoured  ? 
 
5 Food additives 
Food additives may be used in the preparation of vodka in accordance with CODEX STAN 192. EAS 142: 2017 
© EAC 2017 – All rights reserved  3
 6 Heavy metal contaminants 
Use codex general statement  
7 Hygiene  
Vodka shall be manufactured and handled in a hygienic manner in accordance with EAS 39. 
8 Weights and measures 
The volume and fill of vodka shall comply with the weights and measures regulations of Partner States or 
equivalent legislation. 
9 Packaging  
9.1 Vodka shall be packaged in suitable food grade containers.  
9.2 Vodka shall be packaged for bulk delivery and storage in containers that shall prevent contamination of 
the product and preserve its safety and quality 
10 Labelling 
In addition to the requirements of EAS 38, the following specific labelling requirements shall apply and shall be 
legibly and indelibly marked: 
a) common name as ‘vodka’; 
b) name, physical location and address of manufacturer; 
c) ethyl alcohol content, % by volume; 
d) net content;  
e) batch identification number/code; 
f) country of origin; and 
g) statutory warnings 
11 Sampling and test 
Sampling and testing of vodka shall be done in accordance with EAS 104. 
 EAS 142: 2017  
 
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