In the late 1980s, European regulators asked for a measurement method for fine-cut tobacco smoke yields. As a consequence CORESTA decided in 1989 to establish a Task Force in order to study the various issues associated with the use of fine-cut tobacco. These included investigations into consumer making preferences as well as into developing measurement methods. The work was finalised with a Technical Report and formed the basis of four ISO Standards published between 2001 and 2003. The overall principle of these ISO Standards is that 'tar' and smoke nicotine yields from fine-cut tobacco are measured on the basis of two types of rolling papers and two amounts of tobacco used.

Since 2004, ESTA (European Smoking Tobacco Association) has offered interested laboratories the opportunity to participate in annually conducted collaborative studies on ISO fine-cut tobacco smoke analysis using different ESTA Monitor Tobaccos (EMTs). The purpose of these studies is to establish ‘tar’ and smoke nicotine yields of the respective EMT blend and to provide a regular overview on repeatability and reproducibility based on a recognised statistical methodology.

This presentation will share insight into the studies and results in terms of repeatability and reproducibility values for tar and nicotine over a longer time period.

Although an improvement of method precision was observed over time, these studies have continuously highlighted greater variability values compared to those normally seen for ISO cigarette smoke analysis, likely due to the making of the Fine-Cut Smoking Articles (FSCAs) as part of the related standard.

Further annual studies will be performed in order to monitor trends of method and laboratory performances. Such studies also offer laboratories an opportunity to prove their competence in ISO FCSA smoke analysis as required by ISO 17025.