Uganda has introduced new specifications for bath salts and bath oil to ensure product safety and consumer protection, covering Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, Himalayan salts, perfumed bath salts, bath oil, and vegetable oil bath oil through regulatory frameworks.
Uganda Sets New Standards for Bath Salts and Oils
Importers and manufacturers must meet new composition, safety, and labeling rules.
What changed
Bath salt specifications set for Epsom, Dead Sea, and Himalayan salts covering composition and safety.
Bath oil benchmarks established for products based on refined vegetable or mineral oils.
Sampling and testing required to ensure product integrity and prevent deceptive practices.
Labeling mandated to ensure compliance with safety and consumer protection objectives.
Who it affects
Importers of bath products must verify that salts and oils meet the new technical standards.
Manufacturers must adhere to defined sampling and test methods for quality control.
Key dates
Compliance Requirements for Bath Salts and Bath Oils in Uganda
Uganda regulates bath salts and bath oils under the Draft East African Standards (DEAS) 1355:2025 (Bath salt — Specification) and DEAS 1353:2025 (Bath oil — Specification), developed by the East African Community (EAC) and adopted as national standards. These standards establish mandatory safety, composition, labeling, and microbiological requirements to ensure consumer protection.
1. Scope of Regulation
The standards apply to the following products:
- Bath salts: Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, Himalayan salts (including pink salt), and perfumed bath salts1.
- Bath oils: Refined vegetable oils, mineral oils, or blends thereof, used in bathwater or applied to the skin2.
2. Key Compliance Requirements
A. Bath Salts (DEAS 1355:2025)
i. Composition and Chemical Requirements
Bath salts must comply with the specifications in Table 11:
| Characteristic | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture content (% m/m, max) | 5% | ISO 24831 |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 5–9 | EAS 847-171 |
| Sodium chloride (NaCl, % m/m, min) | 95% (Himalayan/Epsom salts) | Annex A1 |
| 25–40% (Dead Sea salts) | ||
| Magnesium sulphate (% m/m, min) | 98% (Epsom salts) | Annex B1 |
| Calcium (as Ca, % m/m, max) | 6% | ISO 24821 |
| Water-insoluble matter (% m/m, max) | 0.5% | ISO 24791 |
| Sulphate (as SO₄, % m/m, max) | 1% (not applicable to Epsom salts) | ISO 24801 |
ii. Heavy Metal Contaminants
Bath salts must not exceed the following limits1:
| Heavy Metal | Maximum Limit (mg/kg) | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 10 | EAS 847-161 |
| Arsenic | 2 | EAS 847-161 |
| Mercury | 1 | EAS 847-161 |
| Cadmium | 2 | ISO 157741 |
Note: The combined total of lead, mercury, and arsenic must not exceed 10 mg/kg1.
iii. Microbiological Requirements
Bath salts must comply with Table 31:
| Micro-organism | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic mesophilic microorganisms | ≤1,000 CFU/g or CFU/ml | ISO 211491 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Not detected | ISO 227171 |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Not detected | ISO 227181 |
| Candida albicans | Not detected | ISO 184161 |
| Escherichia coli | Not detected | ISO 211501 |
| Yeast and moulds | ≤100 CFU/g | ISO 162121 |
iv. Packaging and Labeling
- Packaging: Must be in well-sealed containers to prevent contamination and product reaction1.
- Labeling: In addition to EAS 346 (Labelling of cosmetics — Requirements), the following must be included1:
- Product name (e.g., "Bath salt," "Epsom salt," "Dead Sea salt").
- Warnings: "For external use only" and "Avoid contact with eyes".
B. Bath Oils (DEAS 1353:2025)
i. General Requirements
- Ingredients must comply with EAS 377 (Cosmetics and cosmetic products)2.
- Must be free from sediment, suspended matter, or separated water2.
- Must be dermatologically safe and non-irritating2.
- Must be manufactured in accordance with ISO 22716 (Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics)2.
- Must mix uniformly with water or float on the surface2.
ii. Specific Requirements
Bath oils must comply with Table 12:
| Characteristic | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture content (% m/m, max) | 0.5% | EAS 847-22 |
| Acid value (max) | 1.0 | EAS 847-42 |
| Peroxide value (meq O₂/kg, max) | 10 | ISO 39602 |
iii. Heavy Metal Contaminants
Bath oils must not exceed the following limits2:
| Heavy Metal | Maximum Limit (mg/kg) | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 10 | EAS 847-162 |
| Arsenic | 2 | EAS 847-162 |
| Mercury | 1 | EAS 847-162 |
Note: The combined total of lead, mercury, and arsenic must not exceed 10 mg/kg2.
iv. Microbiological Requirements
Bath oils must comply with Table 22:
| Micro-organism | Requirement | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic mesophilic microorganisms | ≤1,000 CFU/g or CFU/ml | ISO 211492 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Not detected | ISO 227172 |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Not detected | ISO 227182 |
| Candida albicans | Not detected | ISO 184162 |
v. Packaging and Labeling
- Packaging: Must be in well-sealed containers to prevent contamination and product reaction2.
- Labeling: In addition to EAS 346, the product must be labeled as "Bath oil" (or "Shower oil")2.
3. Regulatory Authority and Enforcement
- Standard Development: The East African Standards Committee (EASC) and Technical Committee EASC/TC 071 (Cosmetics and related products) are responsible for developing and reviewing these standards1, 2.
- Adoption in Uganda: Uganda adopts EAC standards as national standards through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). Compliance is mandatory for manufacturers, importers, and distributors1, 2.
- Sampling: Must follow ISO 24153 (Random sampling procedures)1, 2.
4. Summary Table of Key Requirements
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Threshold/Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEAS 1355:2025 (Bath salts) | Moisture content ≤5%, pH 5–9, NaCl ≥95% (Himalayan/Epsom) or 25–40% (Dead Sea)1 | See Table 11 | EASC/UNBS1 |
| Heavy metals: Pb ≤10 mg/kg, As ≤2 mg/kg, Hg ≤1 mg/kg1 | Combined total ≤10 mg/kg1 | ||
| Microbiological limits: P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli not detected1 | See Table 31 | ||
| Labeling: "For external use only," "Avoid contact with eyes"1 | Mandatory1 | ||
| DEAS 1353:2025 (Bath oils) | Moisture ≤0.5%, acid value ≤1.0, peroxide value ≤10 meq O₂/kg2 | See Table 12 | EASC/UNBS2 |
| Heavy metals: Pb ≤10 mg/kg, As ≤2 mg/kg, Hg ≤1 mg/kg2 | Combined total ≤10 mg/kg2 | ||
| Microbiological limits: P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, C. albicans not detected2 | See Table 22 | ||
| GMP compliance: ISO 227162 | Mandatory2 |
Summary Answer
Uganda regulates bath salts and bath oils under DEAS 1355:2025 and DEAS 1353:2025, respectively, which mandate strict composition, heavy metal, microbiological, and labeling requirements. Bath salts must comply with chemical thresholds (e.g., moisture ≤5%, pH 5–9) and heavy metal limits (e.g., lead ≤10 mg/kg)1, while bath oils must meet purity standards (e.g., moisture ≤0.5%, acid value ≤1.0) and microbiological safety criteria2. Both products require compliant packaging, labeling (including warnings for bath salts), and adherence to EAS 377 and ISO 22716 for ingredients and manufacturing1, 2. The East African Standards Committee (EASC) and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) enforce these standards1, 2.
Sources
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-02879 — Uganda https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/UGA/26_02879_00_e.pdf
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-02881 — Uganda https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/UGA/26_02881_00_e.pdf