ICS 65.120  
 
Reference number  
DRS 485 : 2021  
© RSB 2021  
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
485  
 
First edition  
2021 -mm-dd 
 
Production and handling of edible insects  
for food and feed  — Code of practice  
 
  
   
DRS 485 : 2021  
©RSB 2021  - 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 2021  
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 reproduce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
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Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 485 : 2021  
iii                ©RSB 2021  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
5 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  4 
5.1 Personnel  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 4 
5.1.1 Responsibiliti es and competence of personnel  ................................ ................................ ............  4 
5.1.2 Personnel hygiene ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  5 
5.2 Infrastructure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  6 
5.2.1 Location o f the farm  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  6 
5.1.3 Design and layout  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  6 
5.2.2.4 Equipment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
5.3 Insects farming  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  9 
5.3.1 Insect flock  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  9 
5.3.2 Farming of  insects  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  9 
5.4 Storage  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  11 
6 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 11 
7 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 11 
8 Documented information  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  11 
9 Pest control management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  13 
10 Waste management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  13 
 DRS 485 : 2021  
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 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda 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 485  was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 008 , Animal Feeds and Feeding Stuffs . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following sta ndard  (s): 
1) KS 2921:2020 , Production and handling of insects for food and feed — Code of practice  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Title of TC  (RSB/TC 008) in the 
preparation of this standard.  
 DRS 485 : 2021  
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 Production and handling of edible insects and insect derived products 
for food and feed  —Code of practice  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda Standards specifies the requirements for sustainable establishment and operation of wild 
harvested or domesticated edible insect production, harvesting and post harvesting handling for food and feed .  
2 Normative references   
The following documents ar e 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.  
RS 428 , Rwanda GAP  
RS 184 , Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)  
KS 2829, Food animals welfare ⎯ Code of practice  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
Organization  
person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and relationships  to achieve 
its objectives  
3.2 
Harvesting  
process of gathering a consumable stage of an edible insect  from the wild, semi -natural or a rearing facility.  
 
3.3. 
domesticated   
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 farming of insects in established farms where the insects are held in confinement  
3.2 
production  
insect farming activities including post -harvest handling at the farm level and those ha rvested from the wild  
3.3 
insect farming  
rearing of insects which includes feeding, hatching, growth phase, harvesting and post -harvest handling 
activities  
3.4 
semi domestication of edible insects  
farming of edible insects by manipulating their natural environment to some degree to enhance their production  
3.5 
wild harvesting  
collecting  edible insects from their natural environment  
3.6 
waste  
any substance which constitutes scrap material, an effluent, unwanted substance, article which requires 
disposing of as being broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled  
3.7 
insect waste products  
parts from insects that are not necessarily needed in a food or feed products. (insects that have died naturally, 
pupae and larvae exuviae, excreme nt (residue or frass), that has to be discarded)  
3.8 
post harvesting handling  
include, preliminary processing activity  ( removal of inedible parts, sorting, drying) , storage, packaging, labelling 
and transport ation  DRS 485 : 2021  
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 4 General requirements  
4.1 The organizatio n rearing edible insects for food or feed shall : 
a) ensure that farms, harvesting and processing sites are legally established and in compliance with applicable 
laws, regulations  and standards ; 
b)  
c) identify, select and maintain pre -requisite program mes that:  
1) are able to minimize the likelihood of introducing contaminants and meet the requirements set 
down in this code of practice  
2) enable the implementation of regulatory requirements related to protection against contamination;  
3) target  the type of farm production, by the processing plant receiving the farm end -product, or by 
the competent authority;  
4) are appropriate to manage identif ied risks to the safety of insect and insect derived  products  
5) apply to the size , nature  and o peration s of the farm  
6) minimize s the risk of unintentional escape of the edible insects in order to prevent their negative effects  
to the environment   
4.2 The organization rearing edible insects for food or feed shall identify and implement  the applicable statutory 
and regulatory requirements  
   
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5 Specific requirements  
5.1 Personnel  
The organization  should ensure that any person (s) involved in the insect farming  has a required level of 
competence, behave and maintain a required degree of hygiene appropriate to edible insect farmin g, depending 
on the specie s. 
5.1.1 Responsibilities and competence of personnel  
a) The organisation shall determine and communicate the ro les, responsibilities and authorities to personnel 
involved in handling edible insects and derived products to ensure the safety of finished products  
b) The organization shall determine the necessary competence of person(s), including external providers, 
doing work under its control that affects  edible insect farming and  its food safety performance;  
1) Any person deployed in an insect farm should be equipped with basic training or awareness on food 
safety and to the minimum on the principles of Hazard Analysis Cr itical Control Points as outlined in 
RS 184.  
2) Supervisors  of insect farming operations should have sufficient competence  in the  following aspect s: 
i) behaviour of insects;  
ii) food and feed safety principles;  
iii) ability to identify species of edible insects;  
iv) insect’s species life cycle;  
v) handling of insects; and  
vi) how to prevent farmed insects from escaping  
c) To ensure smooth operation and management of all personnel, the organization  shall ensure that  a farm 
for insects has a person who is overall in charge of the farm and who should possess specialised  training 
and is able to:  
1) ensure critical control points a re determined , monitored and controlled  
2) establish and implement good insect farming  practices;  
3) identify emerging issues within the farm and establish both correction and corrective actions; and  DRS 485 : 2021  
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 4) coordinate and facilitate refresher  and/or induction trainings  of staff working in the farm.  
d) The organization shall design, implement  and review training program to address the concepts at a level 
appropriate for the knowledge and skill level of the personnel being trained. The program should consider 
among others:  
1) the nature of the insects, in particular their ability to be infected  by and/ or carr iers  of pathogenic or 
spoilage micro -organisms;  
2) the manner in which the insects are handled and packed, including the probability of contamination;  
3) the extent and nature of  processing or further preparation before final consumption;  
4) the conditions under which the insects will be stored; and  
5) the expected shelf life . 
5.1.2 Personnel hygiene  
5.1.2.1  People are a potential source of disease causing  micro -organisms. Prevention of contamination of 
insects by personnel depends on everyone being aware of the potential risks associated with poor hygiene 
practices and behaving in a manner that will prevent these risks.  
5.1.2.2  Adequate hygiene facilities shall be in place and this include:  
a) Separate t oilet for ma le and female  and urinals for ma le provided with hand washing and dryer facilities  
b) Bathroom and changing room for both male  and female   
c) suitable protective clothing, head covering, and footwear that is cleaned or changed regularly  for personnel 
and visitors  
5.1.2.2  Organization shall establish and communicate practices for personal cleanliness, behavior and 
operation s that are appropriate to the operations related to insect farming and preliminary processing  
5.1.2.3  The management should ensure that:  
a) All persons entering insect farming and processing areas including visitors and sub -contractors wear 
appropriate protective cloth ing that shall only be used at the farm premises;  
b) All persons suffering from any communicable diseases  or injury should not be permitted to access the 
production area;  
c) Smoking chewing gum, eating  and drinking  shall be avoided in the  production areas.  
d) basic first aid facilities  are in place   
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 5.2 Infrastructure  
5.2.1 Location of the farm  
Edible insect farming  facilities should not be located where there is a threat to edible insect being reared, food 
safety or suitability and hazards cannot be controlled by rea sonable measures.  
The location of farming  facilities should not introduce any hazard from the environment that cannot be 
controlled. In particular, unless sufficient safeguards are provided, facilities  should normally be located away 
from:  
a) environmentall y polluted areas and industrial activities which are reasonably likely to affect the life cycle of 
the insect ;  
b) area where light and temperature conditions a re not appropriate to the life cycle conditions of the species  
c) areas subject to flooding;  
d) loud ex ternal noise that could disturb the rearing of specific insect species.  
e) areas prone to infestations of pests  and pathogens ; and  
f) areas where wastes, either solid or liquid, cannot be removed easily .  
 
5.1.3 Design and layout  
5.2.2.1 The organisation  designing the insect farming facilities should pay special attention to good 
hygienic  conditions  and provision  of adequate measures to  protect the health and life of insects and personnel.  
5.2.2.2The selected design, layout, construction, siti ng, and size should . 
a) Allow and facilitate a logic flow of the activities of the firm  
b) Prevent contamination, and provide adequate working space to allow for the hygienic performance of all 
operations;  
c) Permit adequate maintenance, cleaning and/or disinfectio n such as use of foot bath, avoid or minimise 
airborne  diseases;  
d) Ensure production units in which insects are reared shall stay closed or fitted with nets or grids or any other 
appropriate means to exclude other pests, or the contamination with other insec ts, and prevent the 
presence of rodents;  
e) Have adequate natural and/or artificial light and a controlled environment if necessary;  
f) be designed to avoid accidental release of insects from the production facilities;  DRS 485 : 2021  
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 g) provide a different room for storing/holdin g processed insect  products , in case the organisation  produces 
both types of products;  
h) provide adequate drainage and waste disposal systems and facilities;  
i) ensure that access to the storage, breeding and farming areas are restricted to the authorised staff ; 
j) provide a mechanism for proper ventilation system (mechanical or natural) so as to maintain appropriate 
temperature and humidity as required by insects and staff working in the farm; and  
k) where necessary provide for proper zoning and appropriate controls/ segregations to avoid any possible 
cross contaminations.  
5.2.2.3 Depending on the mode of farming and species, the facilities should include  
a) Rearing area of appropriate size to the level of production  
b) Hatching area  
c) Post-harvest  handling area  
d) Feed preparation or processing area  
e) Separate and adequate facilities for the storage of feeds, equipment, chemicals used at the farm  
f) Offices facilities  
g) Personal hygiene facilities  
5.2.2.4 Equipment  
5.2.2.1  Any machine or equipment used in insect farming should not introduce or increase any hazard 
either to the live insects or that which have been harvested and processed.  
5.2.2.2  All machines or equipment deployed should be fit for purpose, installed and maintained such that 
they: 
a) permit ade quate maintenance and cleaning;  
b) function in accordance with its intended use;  
c) facilitate good hygiene practices; and  
d) be properly maintained.   
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 5.2.2. 3 All monitoring and measuring equipment should be regularly maintained and calibrated  
5.2.2. 4 Where containe rs for waste , inedible and/or hazardous substances  are provided, they should be:  
a) clearly identified for their intended purpose;  
b) constructed of impervious material which can be readily cleaned and disinfected;  
c) closed, when not in immediate use; and  
d) preferab ly fitted with a foot -operated lid or other suitable means to minimise contamination by hands.  
  DRS 485 : 2021  
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 5.3 Insects farming  
5.3.1 Insect flock  
a) Flock management: Organisation  of confined farms should use breeding flocks of a known and traceable 
origin. The organisation  should also maintain consistent population density at each developmental stage; 
and 
b) The organisation  should ensure that the insects are farmed in a controlled g rowing environment designed 
and maintained as guided by this code.  
5.3.2 Farming of insects  
5.3.2.1  Farming  of the insect is the most critical aspect in  the entire insect farming. Organisation is required 
to apply good farming practices  as appropriate and ensure sustainability of operations.  
5.3.2.2  Insect farming may be  divided into 4 stages namely:  
a) feeding of insects;  
b) growth phases;  
c) harvesting phase; and  
d) post-harvest handling . 
5.3.3 Feeding  and watering  of insect  
5.3.3.1.  Organisatio ns should ensure that edible insects are provided with sufficient substrate and water 
to ensure optimal growth of the insects being farmed. The organisation  should apply any technical or 
organisational measures that they deem necessary to prevent any risk of contamination of the substrate.  
5.3.3.2  The activity of feeding and watering edible insects  shall not increase the likelihood of food 
contamination by  transmitting contaminants through edible insects . 
5.3.3..3  The organization shall define and impleme nt measures to ensure that feed and water are suitable 
for the insects  and do not increase the likelihood of contamina nts. 
5.3.3..4  An organisation  should apply the following principle directly or modified to ensure good nutrition 
and safety of the insect:  
a) The substrate should be selected by taking into consideration the chosen insect species  and intended use  
(either for food or feed) , based on its m ycotic, bacterial and viral disease resistance.  
b) Substrate delivering equipment should not introduce any hazard to the insects.   
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 c) boxes/cages containing insects and equipment destined to provide the substrate and/or the water to the 
insect between each batch of production should be thoroughly cleaned.  
d) The organisation  should put in place a traceability record for substrate used in feeding the insect. They 
should be to the minimum be able to identify the source and time the substrate was fed.  
e) Where an o rganizat ion is using crops to feed the insects, they shall ensure that  crops are grown in 
controlled areas free of pesticide  residue s in accordance to the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
f) Depending of the species feed likely to affect the life of insects should be p re-treated  
g) When the insects are fed  with waste substrates,  the organization shall ensure adequate sorting and 
eliminate component likely to contaminate insect with heavy metals and other chemicals  
h) Water used for insect watering should be good quality to avoid contamination with heavy metals  
5.3.4 Growth phase  
As a general rule, the organisation  should control the following aspect as appropriate depending on the insect 
at the farm.  
a) The temperature: insect growth rate is heavily influenced by temperature levels. Temperatures between 
20°C to 36°C are most beneficial in the majority of cases.  
b) Organization  should ensure adequate lighting depending on the insects  and the growth stage . 
c) Humidity: temperatur es shall correlate with a specific level of relative humidity, depending on the phase of 
development. The organisation  should be aware of the appropriate humidity requirement for the species 
being farmed . 
d) Enclosed space: the insect colony should be enclose d and secured to facilitate pest control and prevent 
insect stock escape. To achieve this, it is recommended to use multiple self -contained spaces, each with 
its own population, water supply and food sources. In the event of escape, the organisation  should  notify 
the relevant competent authority.  
e) Ventilation: proper ventilation of the premises is required and shall be suited to the species characteristics 
and projected temperature/humidity levels. This ensures clean rearing conditions and avoids cross -
conta mination through the air.  
5.3.5 Harvesting phase  
5.3.5.1  No fresh substrate should be added prior to harvesting: in some cases, insects should be removed 
from the growing substrate before harvesting.  
5.3.5.2  Harvesting techniques differs from insect to another and therefore the organisation  should be 
familiar with the harvesting requirements of their flock. For example, holometabolic insects (i.e. mealworms, 
black soldier fly, housefly)  are harvested as  fully grown larvae, whereas in hemimetabolous insects (e.g. crickets 
and grasshoppers)  are harvested at young nymphaea or adult stage. Cricket adults are often collected by 
sieving from the growing substrate or by insect collecting nets while Black soldier fly l arvae may naturally (at a DRS 485 : 2021  
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 mature level) migrate from the moist substrate to a dry environment, where they can be easily sieved manually 
or mechanically.  
5.3.6 Post -harvest handling  
5.3.2.4.1   Post-harvest handling should be managed in a way that ensures th at the harvested insects are 
not exposed to possible contaminants that they may carr y over to the food or feed.  
5.3.2.4.2   Post-harvest processing such as drying of insects should  be done within a short time after 
harvesting and stored in a cool, dry place . 
5.3.2.4.3   The processing objective should aim to:  
a) avoid the use of areas where the environment poses a threat to the safety of food;  
b) control contaminants, pests and diseases of animals and plants in such a way as not to pose a threat to 
food safety; and  
c) adopting practices and measures to ensure products are produced under appropriately hygienic conditions.  
5.4 Storage  
The organisation  should ensure that there are measures in place to:  
a) sort the harvested insects from materials which are evidently unfit for human and animal consumption;  
b) dispose of any rejected material in a hygienic manner and in accordance to the guidance of this code;  and 
c) Protect harvested insects from contamination by pests or chemical, physical or microbiological  
contaminants or other objectionable substances during handling, storage and transport ation . 
6 Packaging  
Post-harvest  handled insects  shall be packaged in appropriate food grade packaging material that shall prot ect 
and safeguard the ir integrity.  
7 Labelling  
Labelling should be done in accordance RS EAS 38 and /or product specific standard  
8 Document ed information   
8.1 The organisation  shall identify and establish necessary documents and procedure to be maintained and 
information to be retained for the effectiveness and efficiency of farm operations   
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 8.2 The establishment of documented information shall consider documentation requirement s in this standard 
and those specified by statutory and regulatory requirements    
8.3 When creating and updating documented information the organisation  shall ensure appropriate  
a) identification and description (e.g. a title, date, author, or reference num ber); 
b) format (e.g. language, software version, graphics) and media (e.g. paper, electronic);  
c) review and approval for suitability and adequacy.  
8.4 Documented information shall be controlled to ensure  
d) it is available and suitable for use, where and when it is needed;   
e) it is adequately protected (e.g. from loss of confidentiality, improper use, or loss of integrity).  
8.5 For the control of documented information, the organization shall address the following activities, 
as applicable:  
a) distribution, access, ret rieval and use;  
b) storage and preservation, including preservation of legibility;  
c) control of changes (e.g. version control);  
d) retention and dispos al. 
8.6 Documented information of external origin determined by the organization to be necessary for the 
farm operation  shall be identified, as appropriate, and controlled.  
8.7 Documented information retained as evidence of conformity shall be protected from unint ended 
alterations.  
8.8 For the purpose of this code of practice the organisation  shall keep and retain the following documented 
information : 
a) Production condition for the species being reared  
b) Information proving the competence of the personnel ; 
c) Specification and acceptance criteria of the incoming materials (feeds, cleaning reagents, pest control 
products ; 
d) Identification of risk, hazards and mitigation measures  
e) Production process and procedure of undertaking activities  DRS 485 : 2021  
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 f) source of flock or flock d ata; 
g) production capacities;  
h) corrections and corrective measures undertaken during farming;  
i) non complying products and how they were handled; and  
j) waste management procedure  
k) pest control procedure . 
l) Relevant s tatutory and regulatory requirements  
9 Pest control  management  
9.1Pests pose a major threat to the safety and suitability of food and derived from insects. Pest infestations can 
occur where there are breeding sites and a supply of food. Good hygiene practices should be employed to avoid 
creating an environ ment conducive to pests.  
9.2 The organisation  should develop and implement a pest management program including such thing 
as baits, use of chemicals and pesticides as appropriate.  
9.3 The pest management program should be monitored and improved where necessary for 
effectiveness.  
10 Waste management  
In addition to compliance with requirement as administered by the competent authority , the organisation  should 
ensure that:  
a) Suitable provision s are made for the removal and storage of waste.  
b) Waste does not  accumulate outside of any designated waste storage area. 
c) Waste stores are kept appropriately clean.  
d) waste are disposed of f in an appropriate way to prevent the contamination of the rearing environment, the 
substrates used to feed the insects and the insects themselves.  
e) Insect waste products should be properly treated before disposing  them off  in order to prevent any further 
contamination to the environment.  CD XXX: 2021  
 
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