Tanzania has issued new specifications for bath oil and bath salts to ensure product quality and consumer protection, covering refined vegetable oils, mineral oils, and salt types such as Epsom and Dead Sea salts.
Tanzania Sets New Standards for Bath Oils and Salts
Importers and manufacturers must follow new composition and labeling rules.
What changed
Bath oils must be sampled and tested to meet new performance requirements.
Bath salt composition is now regulated, covering Epsom, Dead Sea, and Himalayan salts.
Misleading claims are prohibited and labeling must meet the new standards.
Who it affects
Manufacturers of bath oils and salts must ensure products meet new composition and testing standards.
Importers shipping these products to Tanzania must ensure consignments comply with the new specifications.
Key dates
Compliance Requirements for Bath Oils and Bath Salts in Kenya
Kenya, as a member of the East African Community (EAC), adopts East African Standards (EAS) for bath oils and bath salts. These standards are developed by the East African Standards Committee (EASC) and are legally applicable in Kenya under the East African Community Customs Union (EACCU) Protocol and the Standards Act (Cap. 496). Below are the key compliance requirements for bath oils and bath salts based on the Draft East African Standards (DEAS) 1353:2025 (Bath Oil – Specification) and DEAS 1355:2025 (Bath Salt – Specification).
1. Scope and Applicability
Bath Oils1, 2
- Applies to bath oils based on refined vegetable oils, mineral oils, or blends for skin application or addition to bathwater.
- Covers scented oils intended for bathing purposes.
Bath Salts2
- Applies to Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, Himalayan salts, and other crystalline bath salts added to bathwater.
- Includes salts with minerals, fragrances, or essential oils.
2. Key Compliance Requirements
A. General Requirements
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Oils (DEAS 1353:2025) | All ingredients must comply with EAS 377 (Cosmetics and Cosmetic Products)1. | EASC/TC 071 (Cosmetics)1 |
| Must be dermatologically safe and free from skin irritation1. | ||
| Must be produced under ISO 22716 (Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics)1. | ||
| Bath Salts (DEAS 1355:2025) | All ingredients must comply with EAS 3772. | EASC/TC 071 (Cosmetics)2 |
| Must be water-soluble and free from contaminants2. |
B. Specific Technical Requirements
Bath Oils1
| Characteristic | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture content | ≤ 0.5% (m/m) | EAS 847-21 |
| Acid value | ≤ 1.0 | EAS 847-41 |
| Peroxide value | ≤ 10 meq O₂/kg | ISO 39601 |
| Heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg) | Lead (Pb): ≤ 10 mg/kg | EAS 847-161 |
| Arsenic (As): ≤ 2 mg/kg | ||
| Mercury (Hg): ≤ 1 mg/kg | ||
| Total (Pb + As + Hg): ≤ 10 mg/kg | ||
| Microbiological limits | Total aerobic mesophiles: ≤ 1,000 CFU/g | ISO 211491 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Not detected | ISO 227171 | |
| Staphylococcus aureus: Not detected | ISO 227181 | |
| Candida albicans: Not detected | ISO 184161 |
Bath Salts2
| Characteristic | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture content | ≤ 5% (m/m) | ISO 24832 |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 5 – 9 | EAS 847-172 |
| Sodium chloride (NaCl) | Dead Sea salt: 25 – 40% | Annex A2 |
| Himalayan/Epsom salts: ≥ 95% | ||
| Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) | ≥ 98% | Annex B2 |
| Heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd) | Lead (Pb): ≤ 10 mg/kg | EAS 847-162 |
| Arsenic (As): ≤ 2 mg/kg | ||
| Mercury (Hg): ≤ 1 mg/kg | ||
| Cadmium (Cd): ≤ 2 mg/kg | ISO 157742 | |
| Total (Pb + As + Hg): ≤ 10 mg/kg | ||
| Microbiological limits | Total aerobic mesophiles: ≤ 1,000 CFU/g | ISO 211492 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Not detected | ISO 227172 | |
| Staphylococcus aureus: Not detected | ISO 227182 | |
| Candida albicans: Not detected | ISO 184162 | |
| Escherichia coli: Not detected | ISO 211502 | |
| Yeast and moulds: ≤ 100 CFU/g | ISO 162122 |
C. Packaging and Labelling Requirements
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Oils1 | Must be packaged in well-sealed, non-reactive containers1. | DEAS 1353:20251 |
| Labelling must comply with EAS 346 (Labelling of Cosmetics)1. | ||
| Product name must be “Bath oil” (or “Shower oil”)1. | ||
| Bath Salts2 | Must be packaged in well-sealed, non-reactive containers2. | DEAS 1355:20252 |
| Labelling must comply with EAS 3462. | ||
| Product name must be “Bath salt” (or “Epsom salt,” “Dead Sea salt,” etc.)2. | ||
| Must include warnings: “For external use only” and “Avoid contact with eyes”2. |
D. Sampling and Testing
3. Enforcement and Compliance
- The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is the national body responsible for enforcing EAS in Kenya under the Standards Act (Cap. 496).
- Non-compliance may result in product seizure, fines, or legal action under Kenyan consumer protection laws.
- Manufacturers and importers must ensure products meet EAS 377 (Cosmetics and Cosmetic Products) and ISO 22716 (GMP for Cosmetics)1, 2.
Summary Answer
Kenya enforces East African Standards (EAS) for bath oils and bath salts, specifically DEAS 1353:2025 (Bath Oil – Specification) and DEAS 1355:2025 (Bath Salt – Specification). Key requirements include:
- Ingredient compliance with EAS 377 and ISO 22716 (GMP)1, 2.
- Technical specifications for moisture content, pH, heavy metals (≤ 10 mg/kg total Pb/As/Hg), and microbiological limits (e.g., no Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus)1, 2.
- Labelling must include the product name (e.g., “Bath oil” or “Bath salt”) and warnings (e.g., “For external use only”) under EAS 3461, 2.
- Packaging must be non-reactive and sealed1, 2.
- Sampling must follow ISO 241531, 2.
All standards are developed by the East African Standards Committee (EASC) and enforced by KEBS in Kenya1, 2. Non-compliance may lead to legal penalties.
Sources
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-02881 — Uganda https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/UGA/26_02881_00_e.pdf
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-02879 — Uganda https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/UGA/26_02879_00_e.pdf