WTO Circulates Draft Malawi Standard DMS 575:2024 for Stable Bleaching Powder for Household and Industrial Use

June 10, 2025

On June 10, 2025, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) circulated a draft Malawi Standard "DMS 575:2024, Stable bleaching powder – Specification". This Draft Malawi Standard DMS 575:2024 specifies the requirements, sampling methods, and test procedures for stable bleaching powder intended for both household and industrial applications. It references relevant national standards on labeling (MS 722) and analytical water use (MS 2079). The standard defines key terms such as “available chlorine,” referring to the chlorine content from hypochlorite compounds, and “stability,” which is measured by chlorine loss after heating the sample at 100±2°C for two hours. Two grades of bleaching powder are recognized based on available chlorine content: Grade 1 and Grade 2. The material must be produced by chlorinating slaked lime and should appear white to slightly yellowish-white, free from hard lumps and visible impurities. This standard ensures product consistency, safety, and effectiveness for end users across domestic and industrial cleaning applications. Comments are due by August 09, 2025.

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Malawi

News tags CSRA

Malawi Bureau of Standards; World Trade Organisation (WTO); Bleaching powder; Chlorine; Stability; Chlorination; Malawi standard

Aspect	USA	EU	Australia	China	UAE
Regulatory Authority	FDA	EFSA & Member State Authorities	FSANZ	SAMR & NHC	ESMA & MOHAP
Major Regulation Governing Compliance	Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA); 21 CFR Part 110 (Current Good Manufacturing Practices)	Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General Food Law); Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers	Food Standards Code (Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code)	Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised 2015); GB Standards for Food Safety	UAE.S GSO 9:2017 (GCC General Requirements for Prepackaged Food)
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Processed Food Labeling Compliance /Labeling Requirements	Mandatory labeling as per FDA guidelines (Nutrition Facts, Ingredient Declaration, Allergens)	Must comply with EU Food Information Regulation (1169/2011); includes allergens, nutrition, and origin labeling.	Must follow FSANZ Food Standards Code for labeling; nutrition panels, allergens, and ingredient lists required	Must follow GB 7718-2011 (National Food Safety Standards) for labeling; mandatory nutrition facts, allergens, and shelf-life	Must follow GSO 9:2017 for pre-packaged food labeling; Arabic labeling, allergens, and nutrition facts required
Timeline for Registration	No fixed timeline: products can enter the market once compliant	No formal registration unless novel food; EFSA approval for health claims takes 12-18 months	No formal registration unless it's a novel food or makes health claims	Typically, 12-24 months for novel foods, shorter for regular processed foods	Approval may take 6-12 months for certain products. Regular processed foods can enter the market once label approval is obtained

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