November 2025: New International Standards for Digital Printing and Toner Cartridge Yield Announced

In November 2025, the field of image technology saw the release of three pivotal international standards, redefining how digital printing devices and toner cartridges are evaluated and reported worldwide. For industry professionals, quality managers, engineers, compliance officers, and procurement specialists, these updated specifications provide essential guidance for ensuring transparency, reliability, and consistency in office printing environments. The newly published standards – ISO/IEC 17629:2025, ISO/IEC 19752:2025, and ISO/IEC 19798:2025 – cover first print out time (FPOT) measurement and toner cartridge yield determination for both monochrome and colour devices. This article delivers a comprehensive look at these standards, their core requirements, and what they mean for the image technology sector.

Overview

The image technology and office equipment sector is foundational to modern workplaces, powering document creation, knowledge sharing, and workflow efficiency. As printing technologies evolve, so too must the standards ensuring device performance, user experience, and cost management. Reliable benchmarking and transparent reporting are more critical than ever for making informed purchasing, implementation, and maintenance decisions.

International standards, especially those developed jointly by ISO and IEC, serve as authoritative references for manufacturers, test laboratories, and end-users seeking to maintain quality, consistency, and technological compatibility. The three new standards published in November 2025 address two of the most scrutinized aspects of office printing – the time it takes to produce the first printed page, and how many pages a toner cartridge can deliver.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The scope and key requirements of each new standard
• Implementation and compliance impacts for industry stakeholders
• Technical best practices for device testing, reporting, and standardization
• How these changes promote transparency and cost-efficiency in office printing

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO/IEC 17629:2025 – Method for Measuring First Print Out Time for Digital Printing Devices

Information technology – Office equipment – Method for measuring first print out time for digital printing devices

ISO/IEC 17629:2025 establishes a unified method for measuring the first print out time (FPOT) of digital printing devices. This ensures manufacturers, buyers, and end-users can reliably compare the speed at which printers and multifunction devices produce the initial page after a print command is issued—a crucial indicator of user-perceived performance.

Scope and Requirements

• Applicability: Covers all digital printing devices, including both black & white (B&W) and colour models, irrespective of the underlying marking technology.
• Test Instructions: Specifies procedures for test chart selection, test setup, device initialization, environmental controls, and the actual FPOT measurement process.
• Test Scenarios: Measures FPOT from various device states—ready, sleep (both 15 and 60 minutes), and off—to simulate realistic office conditions.
• Reporting: Mandates detailed documentation of device settings, connection type, environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), and consistency across test iterations.

Who Needs to Comply?

• Manufacturers and vendors of digital printers and multifunction devices
• Test laboratories conducting performance certification
• Organizations evaluating or benchmarking office equipment

Implementation Implications

Organizations must adapt testing facilities and documentation protocols to align with the precise test parameters established by ISO/IEC 17629:2025. This includes careful management of test environment variables and standardized reporting of results for meaningful comparison between products.

Notable Revisions:

• Addition of an optional FPOT from sleep (15 min) test
• Clarified and harmonized terminology and measurement procedures to align with other digital printing productivity standards

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive FPOT measurement from multiple device states
• Harmonization with ISO/IEC 24734 and better alignment with market expectations
• Enhanced procedural clarity for test setup and reporting

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 17629:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 19752:2025 – Toner Cartridge Yield Determination for Monochromatic Printers

Information technology – Office equipment – Method for the determination of toner cartridge yield for monochromatic electrophotographic printers and multi-function devices that contain printer components

ISO/IEC 19752:2025 provides a proven, industry-wide methodology for determining the page yield of toner cartridges in monochrome (black & white) laser and multi-function printers. As consumable costs are a significant factor in total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations, standardized yield measurement is vital for both buyers and suppliers.

Scope and Requirements

• Applicability: Focused exclusively on monochrome electrophotographic (laser) printers and their multi-function counterparts. Not applicable for printers with a minimum printable size of A3 or larger, nor for photo-only printers.
• Test System: Utilizes all-in-one toner cartridges or cartridges without a photoconductor, following detailed installation and setup protocols.
• Measurement: The yield is determined through continuous semi-automated printing of standardized test pages until the cartridge reaches end-of-life, defined by toner depletion or print fade.
• Sample Size: Requires testing a minimum of nine cartridges across at least three printer units to ensure statistically valid results.
• Print Environment: Imposes strict environmental controls: temperature (23°C ± 2°C), humidity (50% RH ± 10%), with mandatory acclimation and continuous environmental monitoring.
• Reporting: The calculation of declared cartridge yield is based on the lower 90% confidence bound of tested samples, ensuring conservative and reliable consumer information.

Who Needs to Comply?

• Printer and cartridge manufacturers
• Refurbishers and third-party cartridge suppliers
• Testing organizations and certification bodies

Practical Implications

Adhering to ISO/IEC 19752:2025 means organizations must structure their cartridge testing programs around rigorous, reproducible procedures, facilitating accurate yield reporting and reducing the risk of consumer disputes over consumable performance.

Notable Changes in 2025 Edition:

• Explicit exclusion of A3 and larger printers as well as photo-only devices
• Enhanced requirements regarding test environment and documentation
• Editorial upgrades for clarity and alignment with current practices

Key highlights:

• Statistically robust sample size requirement for credible yield data
• Precise test file and print mode specifications for repeatability
• Clear rules for reporting cartridge failures and defective printers

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 19752:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 19798:2025 – Toner Cartridge Yield Determination for Colour Printers

Information technology – Office equipment – Method for the determination of toner cartridge yield for colour printers and multi-function devices that contain printer components

ISO/IEC 19798:2025 extends yield measurement to colour office printers and multi-function devices, covering cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner cartridges. Uniform, standardized data advantages organizations making critical decisions about consumable inventory, cost management, and sustainability metrics.

Scope and Requirements

• Applicability: Focused on colour electrophotographic printing systems using all-in-one toner cartridges or cartridges without a photoconductor. Valid for A4-size or smaller printers; excludes A3 or larger and photo-only models.
• Test Regimen: Involves installation and acclimation, with cartridges tested for yield by printing the ISO/IEC 24712 standard test suite. Each yield value must be calculated from a minimum of nine cartridge sets tested over at least three devices.
• Measurement: The declared cartridge yield is based on the number of standard diagnostic pages printed until end-of-life—determined by fade or automatic stop. Testing is run in semi-continuous, simplex print mode with all cost-saving and toner conservation modes disabled.
• Controlled Conditions: Replicates strict environmental controls as per ISO/IEC 19752:2025 for comparability.
• Reporting: Mandates thorough documentation of all parameters, device details, cartridge provenance, and environmental readings for every tested sample.

Who Needs to Comply?

• Colour printer and cartridge OEMs and suppliers
• Office managed print service providers
• Compliance assessors and procurement teams comparing device efficiency

Practical Implications

ISO/IEC 19798:2025 ensures that yield values for colour toner cartridges are based on transparent and statistically sound tests, supporting enhanced TCO estimations, improved purchasing strategies, and increased customer trust. Organizations must align their internal testing and claims with these international requirements to remain competitive and avoid disputes regarding consumable life and page output.

Notable Changes in 2025 Edition:

• Correction and clarification of test file references and methods
• Improved procedural transparency for the calculation and reporting of declared yield values
• Alignment of sample sizes and test parameters with best practices for statistical reliability

Key highlights:

• Unified approach to colour toner yield measurement
• Minimum test sample for statistical credibility across all four major cartridge colours
• Comprehensive technical guidance for test environment and process control

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 19798:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These November 2025 standards updates have immediate and significant impact across the image technology industry. By raising the bar for testing rigor and documentation, ISO/IEC 17629:2025, ISO/IEC 19752:2025, and ISO/IEC 19798:2025 make yield and performance claims more transparent and comparable. For businesses, the benefits include:

• Improved procurement decisions with verifiable, apples-to-apples data
• Reduced risk of misrepresentation in product marketing and vendor proposals
• Easier regulatory compliance and audit readiness

Compliance Considerations

• Existing systems, processes, and claim templates must be updated to conform to new test and reporting protocols
• Procurement and quality teams should look for evidence of compliance with these standards when evaluating suppliers or devices
• Manufacturers must document compliance, provide accessible test reports, and leverage standards-aligned claims in product literature

Implementation Timelines

While not all standards require regulatory enforcement, leading industry players are expected to implement changes promptly for market differentiation and to meet evolving buyer expectations. Adopting these standards early supports smoother transitions and demonstrates commitment to quality.

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Inaccurate yield and performance claims, leading to customer dissatisfaction
• Exposure to commercial or contractual disputes
• Competitive disadvantage in RFPs and tenders where standards-based documentation is required

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements

• Rigorous sample sizes for testing (a minimum of nine cartridges/sets over three devices)
• Detailed, transparent recording of test environments, device states, and operational settings
• Use of standardized, officially sanctioned test files and procedures
• Disabling of cost-saving or non-default modes during testing for accuracy

Implementation Best Practices

1. Preparation: Thoroughly review and align test facilities, equipment, and protocols to the procedural steps in each standard, including environmental controls and device setup.
2. Documentation: Maintain meticulous records for each test, noting any deviations or consumable issues. Leverage provided sample reporting templates when available.
3. Training: Ensure all personnel involved in testing or reporting are familiar with the latest standards edition and any recent changes.
4. Continuous Monitoring: Automate environmental data logging and device status checks where possible to prevent non-compliant anomalies.

Testing & Certification

• Consider third-party certification for added consumer trust and competitive positioning
• Benchmark against previous test programs to highlight improvements or changes required under the new editions

Conclusion & Next Steps

The November 2025 release of ISO/IEC 17629:2025, ISO/IEC 19752:2025, and ISO/IEC 19798:2025 marks a major advance in the standardization and transparency of digital printing device and cartridge yield evaluation. By adhering to these international standards, organizations can:

• Enhance device selection and inventory planning
• Provide evidence-based consumable yield and device performance claims
• Improve customer satisfaction and operational cost management

Recommendations:

• Manufacturers: Update all product testing, QA, and reporting programs to reflect new standards immediately.
• Procurement and compliance teams: Require supplier documentation referencing these standards in all major device and consumable purchases.
• Engineers and quality managers: Incorporate these standards into regular internal audits and product assessments.

Stay informed with further updates and access the full details of each standard directly via iTeh Standards.

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