Gulf standard                                                                                                      GSO 1415/2 011  
هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعبون لدول الخليج العربية  
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)  
 
 
 
  
Final draft  
 
GSO  5/FDS  1415:20 11 
 
 
 
 
 
التبـغ المعس ـل  
Almeassel t obacco  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Gulf Technical Committee for sector standard s of food and agricu ltural products  
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________  
This document is a draft Gulf standard circulate d for comment s, it is therefore, subject to 
alteration and modification , and may not be referred to as a Gulf standard, until approved by 
GSO  Board of Directors.  
 
 
ICS: 65.160  Gulf standard                                                                                                      GSO 1415/2 011  
 
Foreword  
 
GCC  Standardization Organization  (GSO) is a regional  Organization which consists of 
the national standards Bo dies of GCC  member state s. One of GSO  main function s is to 
issue Gulf Standards  / Technical Regulations through Specialized Technical  Committees 
(TCS).  
 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No . “5” Gulf Technical 
Committee for Standard s of Food and Agricultural  Products  has update  the GSO 
standard  No. 1415/200 6 "Almeassel tobacco ". The draft standard has been prepared by 
state of Qatar.  
 
This standard has been approved as a Gulf T echnical Regulation by G SO Board of 
Directors in its meeting  No. (       ) held on       /    /          H,       /     /          G.  
 
This approved Standard shall  replace and supersede the Standard No. 1415/200 6.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Gulf standard                                                                                                      GSO 1415/2 011  
  
 
Almeassel t obacco  
 
1. Scope  and fie ld of  application :  
This Gulf standard is concerned with Almeassel tobacco, its ingredients,   
additives and their standards .  
 
2. Complementary standard s: 
2.1 GSO. (246):  "Labeling  of tobacco products".  
2.2 GSO   (597): Cigarettes).  
2.3 Gulf standard s concerning the methods of test for tobacco and its product which    
shall be approved by the Organization.  
 
3. Definitions:  
  Almeassel tobacco:  
Ground  tobacco obtained from plants of the sp ecies  Nicotina tobacum and Nicotina 
rustica  and / or any blend from the m to which is added treacle or  invert treacle or 
both,  molasses and glycerin , it is used for smoking by Hookah.  
 
4. Requirements :  
The following  requirements  shall be met in the product:  
4.1 The raw material s used in the processing, shall comply  with Gul f standard s specific 
to each.  
4.2 The raw tobacco used in the processing of Almeassel shall be cleaned and free 
from parasites, viral infection s, spores, decay,  insect s and foreign materials.  
 4.3 Ammeassel shall be processed in authorized establishment for this purpose, it is 
prohibited to use Almeassel prepared manual for commercial purposes (as café, hotels 
and shops for sell tobacco products).  
4.4 The characteristics of tobacco used  shall provide for absorption of additives 
components and  do not allow them to  ooze.  
4.5  No smoked tobacco or any tobacco that has been subject to any 
modification of process its characteristics shall be used in processing .      
4.6  The final product shall be free from insects, decay and any foreign 
vegetable or non -vegetable materials.  
4.7  It is not allow ed to  remolass the  product.  
4.8  Added treacle contents shall not exceed 250 part s per 100 parts by weight 
of tobacco.  
4.9  In the case of using a mixture of treacle and the molasses,  molasses  content 
shall not exceed 25% of the mixture.    
4.10 Sand c ontent in Almeassel tobacco shall not exceed 5% calculated on 
the basis of  the weight of tobacco used in  its processing.  
  Gulf standard                                                                                                      GSO 1415/2 011  
4.11 Sugar con tent in Almeassel tobacco shall not exceed 53%  calculated 
as glucose  at 22% moisture content.  
4.12 Pure glycerin   content  shall  not exceed 10 parts per 100 parts of 
product  weight .  
4.13 Moisture content shall not exceed 17% by weight.  
4.14 Nicotine content shall not exceed 0.5% (On dry weight basis) .  
4.15 Total ash content shall not exceed 12%   (On dry weight basis) .  
4.16 Acid insoluble ash conte nt shall not exceed 5%   (On dry weight 
basis) .  
4.17 Nitrogen content shall not exceed 0.5% (On dry weight basis) .  
4.18 Adding volatile organic acids to the product is not allowed.  
4.19 Adding oils and aromatic essences to the product is not allowed.  
4.20 Adding any color  or flavored  is not allowed.  
4.21 Sodium benzoate may be added provided  that it will not exceed   2.5 
g/ Kg of tobacco weight.  
4.22 Pesticides residues shall not exceed the maximum limits specified in 
the Gulf standard mentioned in Item (2.2).  
4.23 Allow for tolerance  in analysis results within ± 5%.  
 
5. Packing:  
5.1 The product shall be packed in cases  that do  not absorb contents  and that prevent 
loss of moisture  (glassine paper) , and these cases shall be packed in hermetically 
sealed packets.  
5.2 The net weight of the packet shall not exceed 250gm ± 5%.  
 
6. Labeling : 
         Without prejudice  to what has been mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in Item 2.1,  
  the following information shall be declared on the label:  
6.1 Product  name ( Almeassel tobacco) and its trade  mark (if  found ), country  of origin  
       And the name and address of the importer in the case of importing  . 
6.2 Net weight when packed with international units.  
6.3 Nicotine content.  
6.4 Production  and expiry date (month – year), provided that expiry date shall not 
exceed one year from production date .   
6.5 Health warning and warning photo according to what mentioned in Gulf Standard 
mentioned in Item (2.1).  
6.6    Statement “For GCC sale”.  
  
 
7. Sampling : 
         The following shall be observed when  sampling.  
7.1 Samples shall be kept in clean, dry and hermetically sealed containers.  
7.2 Samples shall be stored in well ventilated places away from heat sources until the y 
are analyzed.  Gulf standard                                                                                                      GSO 1415/2 011  
 
 
 
 
7.3 Samples  shall be taken at random according to the followin g table:  
 
Lot size (box)  No. of containers to be 
selected (box)  
Up to 25  
From 26 to 150  
From 151 to 300  
From 301 to 500  
From 501 to 1000  
More than 1000  2 
3 
4 
5 
7 
10 
 
 
 
 
8. Transportation and Storage:  
Transportation and storage of the products shall be c arried out in such a manner as 
not to cause moisture loss  and away  far from heat and contamination sources.  
  
 
9. Methods of Examination and test :  
9.1 All tests shall be carried out on the representative sample taken according to Item 
(7) to insure its co mpliance with the items of this Standard.  
9.2 Tests shall be carried out the Gulf Standard mentioned in  Item (2.3).  
9.3 Calculations shall be made on the basis of 13% moisture content of used tobacco.  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
15/2 Alkhayat