Certification Process Standards for Tobacco, Tobacco Products, and Related Equipment: A Comprehensive Guide

Ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance in today’s tobacco and vapour products industry hinges on adherence to internationally recognized standards. As the sector faces intensified scrutiny and evolving products, foundational ISO standards provide a scientific, transparent basis for certification processes. In this guide, we unravel four crucial international standards vital for anyone involved in the production, analysis, or certification of cigarettes, fine-cut tobacco, and vapour (e-cigarette) products. Implementing these standards not only ensures regulatory readiness and consumer protection but also empowers businesses to boost productivity, scale globally, and enhance overall brand trust.

Overview / Introduction

The global tobacco industry spans traditional products like cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco, as well as rapidly evolving vapour technology. With growing regulatory oversight and diverse consumer expectations, manufacturers, laboratories, and regulators must align their processes and products with technical standards that define, measure, and guarantee key quality and safety parameters.

International standards, particularly those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), underpin the world’s certification frameworks for tobacco, tobacco products, and vapour equipment. These standards set out clear methods for sampling, analytical measurement, and reporting of critical parameters—like menthol content, total particulate matter, benzo[a]pyrene levels, and e-liquid vaporised mass.

By following these standards, businesses can:

• Ensure methods are reproducible and accepted worldwide
• Meet legal and market requirements across regions
• Maintain consistent product quality and safety
• Facilitate product innovation and market expansion

This guide covers the following four cornerstone ISO standards:

• ISO 13110:2025: Menthol determination in cigarette smoke
• ISO 15592-3:2025: Methods for particulate analysis in fine-cut tobacco articles
• ISO 23906-2:2023: Measurement of benzo[a]pyrene in cigarette smoke
• ISO 24197:2022: Determining e-liquid vaporised and aerosol collected mass in vapour products

Whether you are an industry newcomer, regulatory professional, or stakeholder in certification processes for tobacco products, understanding and implementing these standards is a must in today’s marketplace.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 13110:2025 - Menthol Analysis in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke

Cigarettes — Determination of Menthol in Total Particulate Matter from Mainstream Cigarette Smoke with a Smoking Regime According to ISO 3308 (Standard Smoking Regime) — Gas Chromatographic Method

This updated standard specifies a gas chromatographic procedure for quantifying menthol in the total particulate matter (TPM) of mainstream cigarette smoke. Specifically, it applies to cigarettes smoked under the ISO 3308 standard smoking regime—the foundation for global regulatory and quality assurance testing. Menthol, as a common flavor additive, impacts both regulatory reporting and product quality.

What It Covers:

• Defines apparatus and reagents for menthol extraction and measurement
• Prescribes smoking and sampling procedures in line with ISO 4387
• Details preparation, calibration, and operation of gas chromatographs for analysis
• Sets reporting, precision, and reproducibility requirements

Key Requirements:

• Smoking machines must align with ISO 3308 parameters
• TPM must be dissolved in solvent with an internal standard before GC analysis
• Results are expressed in mg/cigarette

Who Should Comply:

• Cigarette manufacturers
• Analytical and regulatory laboratories
• Compliance and certification organizations

Practical Implications: Implementing this standard ensures accurate and reproducible measurement of menthol—a requirement for many regulatory submissions and quality programs globally. The standard is particularly crucial for products marketed as mentholated or those containing flavour capsules.

Notable Features:

• Provides detailed procedure for sample collection and GC measurement
• Includes guidance for collaborative testing and data interpretation
• Addresses special handling for products with encapsulated menthol

Key highlights:

• Enables global consistency in menthol measurement
• Supports regulatory and health claims verification
• Facilitates robust internal quality assurance

Access the full standard:View ISO 13110:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15592-3:2025 - Particulate, Nicotine, and Water Analysis in Fine-cut Tobacco Smoking Articles

Fine-cut Tobacco and Smoking Articles Made from It — Methods of Sampling, Conditioning, and Analysis — Part 3: Determination of Total Particulate Matter of Smoking Articles Using a Routine Analytical Smoking Machine, Preparation for the Determination of Water and Nicotine, and Calculation of Nicotine-free Dry Particulate Matter

Focusing on fine-cut tobacco (commonly used for hand-rolled cigarettes), this standard defines a systematic approach to sample, prepare, and analyze smoking articles for total particulate matter (TPM), water, and nicotine content. It specifies the preparation of laboratory-made fine-cut smoking articles to enable reproducibility and comparability—a key concern due to the diversity in hand-rolled product construction.

What It Covers:

• Laboratory methods for making and conditioning fine-cut smoking articles
• Definitions and measurements for TPM, water, nicotine, and nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM)
• Detailed apparatus requirements, including specialized holders and calibrated smoking machines
• Sample selection, conditioning, and gravimetric measurement procedures
• Calculation formulas and reporting standards

Key Requirements:

• Use a specific wrapper and control filling power (tobacco density)
• Collect particulate matter using glass fiber traps
• Extract water and nicotine using gas chromatography where available

Who Should Comply:

• Manufacturers of fine-cut tobacco products
• Testing and certification laboratories
• Regulatory authorities overseeing tobacco composition

Practical Implications: This standard is essential for consistent measurement in the increasingly popular fine-cut tobacco market, where consumer-created variations require standardized testing to achieve reliable results for certification or regulatory reporting.

Notable Features:

• Addresses the variability inherent in hand-made products by specifying laboratory construction methods
• Supports calculation of ‘tar’ (NFDPM), a key reporting metric
• Links to broader product safety and quality mandates

Key highlights:

• Ensures standardization in analysis of fine-cut tobacco articles
• Enables accurate reporting for water, nicotine, and tar content
• Supports compliance with international and domestic laws

Access the full standard:View ISO 15592-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 23906-2:2023 - Measurement of Benzo[a]pyrene in Cigarette Smoke

Cigarettes — Determination of Benzo[a]pyrene in Cigarette Mainstream Smoke with an Intense Smoking Regime Using GC/MS — Part 2: Method Using Cyclohexane as Extraction Solvent

This standard provides a validated method for detecting and quantifying benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a recognized carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, in the smoke of cigarettes using an intense smoking regime. It makes use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with cyclohexane as the extraction solvent—offering sensitive, reproducible analysis critical for regulatory compliance and public health assessment.

What It Covers:

• Sampling, conditioning, and preparation of cigarettes per ISO 20778 (intense smoking regime)
• Extraction of TPM from filter pads with cyclohexane
• Sample clean-up with solid phase extraction
• Analytical measurement using GC/MS
• Calibration, calculation, and test reporting requirements

Key Requirements:

• Precise control of smoking and extraction parameters
• Use of internal standards and careful calibration
• Reporting of results in nanograms per cigarette or equivalent units

Who Should Comply:

• Cigarette manufacturers
• Certification bodies
• Toxicological, health, and regulatory agencies

Practical Implications: Implementing this standard is crucial for demonstrating regulatory compliance regarding carcinogen content and committing to responsible product stewardship. It is often required for export, safety certification, and health impact studies.

Notable Features:

• Focuses on one of the most studied and regulated smoke constituents
• Supplies a fully validated GC/MS method adaptable for other PAHs
• Aligns with alternative methods (see ISO 23906-1 for methanol extraction)

Key highlights:

• Essential for carcinogen measurement in tobacco smoke
• Supports health claims and regulatory submissions
• Enhances lab reproducibility and data comparability

Access the full standard:View ISO 23906-2:2023 on iTeh Standards

ISO 24197:2022 - Vaporised and Aerosol Mass in Vapour Products (E-cigarettes)

Vapour Products — Determination of E-liquid Vaporised Mass and Aerosol Collected Mass

As vaping continues to gain market share and regulatory focus, ISO 24197:2022 delivers a standardized approach to measuring two vital parameters: e-liquid vaporised mass (EVM) and aerosol collected mass (ACM). The gravimetric procedures enable laboratories and manufacturers to establish reliable emission profiles and support subsequent compositional or toxicological assessment.

What It Covers:

• Procedures for weighing e-liquid before and after vaping to determine EVM
• Collection of aerosol on glass fibre filter pads for ACM measurements
• Standardized handling of vapour product samples, filter pads, and vaping machines
• Method for puff block management to avoid overload and maximize data quality
• Requirements for repeatability, reproducibility, and test reporting

Key Requirements:

• Employ routine analytical vaping machines as defined in ISO 20768
• Document all test parameters including device settings and e-liquid used
• Run trapping efficiency checks to validate filter pad performance

Who Should Comply:

• E-cigarette and vapour product manufacturers
• Testing and certification laboratories
• Regulatory bodies inspecting product emissions

Practical Implications: Adherence provides the foundation for reliable e-cigarette emissions reporting—essential for regulatory dossiers and product innovation. It also serves as a critical preliminary step for more detailed chemical or toxicological testing.

Notable Features:

• Developed in collaboration with both ISO/TC 126 and CEN/TC 437
• Based on CORESTA studied and recommended methods (CRM 84)
• Addresses a rapidly evolving sector with global reach

Key highlights:

• Standardizes e-cigarette emission measurement internationally
• Facilitates market access and regulatory acceptance
• Underpins future product analysis and certification

Access the full standard:View ISO 24197:2022 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Why Certification Standards Matter

With consumer safety, product consistency, and evolving laws at the heart of the tobacco and vaping sector, certification standards are more than a legal checkbox—they’re a business necessity. Organizations that comply with international tobacco product standards gain decisive advantages:

• Regulatory Compliance: Meet domestic and international laws consistently, avoiding costly fines and recalls
• Market Access: Secure product certifications recognized globally, opening new markets and customer segments
• Brand Confidence: Signal quality and responsibility to stakeholders, consumers, and regulators
• Risk Reduction: Mitigate legal, health, and operational risks with reproducible and defensible methods
• Data Transparency: Facilitate transparent reporting and benchmarking across sites and products

Conversely, non-compliance can result in regulatory sanctions, product bans, loss of consumer trust, and financial penalties. Certification based on respected standards also reinforces stakeholder confidence, helping businesses attract investment and foster innovation.

Implementation Guidance

Best Practices for Adopting Tobacco and Vapour Product Standards

1. Familiarize with the Scope and Applicability:

   • Review the full text of each standard to determine relevance to your product line and regulatory environment.

2. Staff Training:

   • Equip laboratory technologists and quality assurance teams with training in standard procedures, apparatus requirements, and data reporting.

3. Method Validation and Internal Audits:

   • Validate analytical procedures in your lab, ensuring equivalency with standard methods.
   • Conduct regular internal audits to confirm ongoing compliance and identify gaps.

4. Documentation and Traceability:

   • Record detailed test data, calibration logs, and sample IDs for each batch or analysis in accordance with ISO requirements.

5. Investment in Equipment:

   • Maintain and calibrate all required analytical equipment (smoking machines, GC/MS, weighing apparatus) to ISO-specified tolerances.

6. Continuous Improvement:

   • Participate in inter-laboratory studies (where possible) or regularly benchmark practices against peers.

Useful Resources

• ISO and iTeh Standards platforms for accessing up-to-date versions
• Industry bodies such as CORESTA and domestic regulatory agencies
• Ongoing staff certifications in analytical chemistry, tobacco testing, and vapour product assessment

Conclusion / Next Steps

Modern tobacco and vapour product industries depend on internationally recognized certification standards that reliably measure, control, and communicate product composition and performance. Adopting ISO 13110:2025, ISO 15592-3:2025, ISO 23906-2:2023, and ISO 24197:2022 empowers organizations to ensure regulatory compliance, demonstrate quality, and scale operations securely. For manufacturers, regulators, and testing laboratories, these standards minimize risk, support new product innovation, and unlock access to global markets.

Recommendations:

• Review and implement the latest standard editions for all relevant products.
• Engage with accredited laboratories and certification authorities trained in ISO methodologies.
• Use the iTeh Standards platform to stay current with amendments and related requirements.

Explore more, keep your standards up-to-date, and lead the way in product quality, safety, and global market access.

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