Tobacco packaging materials, as auxiliary materials in direct contact with tobacco products, have a direct impact on consumer health. E-cigarette products involve multi-dimensional tests including chemical composition analysis, physical performance evaluation, and safety assessment. The following outlines the core testing items and compliance requirements based on current standards.
I. Cigarette Tipping Paper (YQ 57-2015) – Test Items
Category | Test Item | Unit | Limit |
Raw material requirements | Permissible substances | — | Comply with YQ 15.3; recycled paper prohibited |
Inorganic Elements | Lead (Pb) | mg/kg | ≤ 5.0 |
Arsenic (As) | mg/kg | ≤ 1.0 | |
Cadmium (Cd) | mg/kg | ≤ 0.5 | |
Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) | mg/kg | ≤ 0.5 | |
Solvent Residues | Total solvent residues | mg/m² | ≤ 10.0 |
Solvent impurities (total) | mg/m² | ≤ 1.0 | |
Solvent impurities (benzene series) | mg/m² | ≤ 0.5 | |
Solvent impurities (benzene) | mg/m² | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Formaldehyde | mg/dm² | ≤ 0.3 |
| Total phthalates | mg/kg | ≤ 100 |
| Pentachlorophenol | mg/kg | ≤ 0.15 |
| Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | mg/kg | ≤ 10 |
| Specific aromatic amines | mg/kg | Not detectable |
| Diisopropylnaphthalene | mg/kg | ≤ 1.0 |
| Overall migration (non-volatiles) | mg/dm² | ≤ 10 |
| Colour fastness to saliva | grade | ≥ 4 |
| D65 fluorescent brightness (both sides) | % | ≤ 1.0 |
Sensory | Off-odour | — | No off-odour |
Microbiology | Coliform bacteria | CFU/100g | ≤ 30 |
Pathogenic bacteria (referring to enteric pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic cocci) | — | Not detectable |
II. Cigarette Carton & Pack Wrapping Paper (YQ 69-2015) – Test Items
Category | Test Item | Unit | Limit (pack wrapper) | Limit (carton wrapper) |
Basic Requirements | Raw material compliance | — | Comply with YQ 15.4 | |
Recycled paper (pack wrapper) | — | Not allowed | ||
Printed side contact | — | Printed side must not contact cigarette | ||
Solvent Residues | Total solvent residues | mg/m² | ≤ 100.0 | ≤ 100.0 |
Solvent impurities (total) | mg/m² | ≤ 10.0 | ≤ 10.0 | |
Solvent impurities (benzene series) | mg/m² | ≤ 1.0 | ≤ 1.0 | |
Solvent impurities (benzene) | mg/m² | ≤ 0.02 | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Formaldehyde | mg/kg | ≤ 75 | ≤ 75 |
| Total phthalates | mg/kg | ≤ 100 | — |
| Total specific aromatic amines | mg/kg | ≤ 20 | — |
Photoinitiators | Total benzophenones | mg/m² | ≤ 20.0 | — |
Total isopropyl thioxanthones (ITX) | mg/m² | ≤ 25.0 | — | |
Ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate | mg/m² | ≤ 10.0 | — | |
2-Methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinopropan-1-one | mg/m² | ≤ 10.0 | — | |
4,4'-Bis(diethylamino)benzophenone |
| ≤ 10.0 | — | |
4,4'-Bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone |
| ≤ 10.0 | — | |
| D65 fluorescent brightness (inner surface) | % | ≤ 1.0 | — |
| Total diisopropyl naphthalenes | mg/kg | ≤ 1.0 | — |
III. E-cigarette Testing & Label Verification
1. Nicotine Content Testing
Test Object | Test Item | Requirement | Test Method |
E-liquid | Nicotine content | 20 mg/mL (EU TPD 2014/40/EU, UK, Canada, China) | Using internationally recognized authoritative methods such as Gas Chromatography (GC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), or High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to accurately quantify nicotine in e-liquid. The methods are sensitive and specific, effectively eliminating interference from other components. |
Label compliance verification | Consistency between measured content and labelled value | Consistency | Compare the measured nicotine content with the value declared on the product label and issue a conformity assessment report to ensure the authenticity of the label information. |
2. Material Requirements
Target Market | Regulatory System & Core Requirements |
China | 1.Food Contact Materials (FCM) – Mandatory national standards GB 4806 series, including general safety requirements (GB 4806.1) and specific standards for different materials (plastics, metals, paper, etc.). 2. Hazardous substance restrictions – GB/T 26572 Requirements of concentration limits for certain restricted substances in electrical and electronic products. |
European Union | 1. Food Contact Materials (FCM) – Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and specific measures, such as the Plastics Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. 2. Hazardous substance restrictions (RoHS) – RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU and amendments), restricting 10 hazardous substances including lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB). 3. Chemicals management (REACH) – REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, governing the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals. |
Through the testing services described above, CIRS TESTING can assist tobacco manufacturers, packaging material suppliers, and related parties in effectively evaluating and controlling the safety and hygiene risks of their products, ensuring compliance with mandatory standards in various countries, and providing solid technical assurance for product quality and safety.
For more information about our services or to request a tailored compliance solution, please get in touch with us via test@cirs-group.com.