In Europe, tobacco manufacturers should finance chemical analyses of the products they sell

A team of European researchers has found that most European countries are not conducting the tests of tobacco and nicotine products they are supposed to. When these tests are conducted, they mainly concern traditional cigarettes and, to a lesser extent, e-liquids for e-cigarettes.

European Directive 2014/40/EU on tobacco products requires member states to monitor the nicotine and tar content, as well as the carbon monoxide (CO) emissions of various tobacco products. To this end, the competent authorities of these states must establish a list of independent laboratories authorized to carry out these measurements, with independence from the tobacco industry being a particular requirement.

Very partial and insufficiently independent controls

Acting within the framework of the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JACT), a group of European researchers has identified the laboratories authorized to control tobacco products and the measurements carried out[1]They were only able to collect responses from 24 laboratories in 19 member states, suggesting that about a third of states do not carry out any testing. Only two member states had rigorous testing programs, with most other states carrying out only a small number of tests, often by non-independent laboratories.

The analyses carried out focused mainly on conventional cigarettes and, to a lesser extent, on e-liquids for electronic cigarettes. However, analyses conducted on heated tobacco and oral tobacco products were extremely rare, and non-existent for cigars, pipe tobacco and herbal smoking products.

Another study conducted within the framework of JACT collected responses from 28 independent laboratories in 17 member states, but only reported parameter verification in 9 of these states. Standard laboratory testing procedures were followed for parameter testing in conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products. In e-cigarette e-liquids, the only parameters analyzed using standard procedures were nicotine, glycerol, and propylene glycol concentrations.

A necessary contribution from manufacturers to product analyses

Based on the information collected, the researchers believe that member states would need enhanced cooperation in the analysis of tobacco products, with closer collaboration between European laboratories. Noting that the resources allocated for these analyses are insufficient and most often covered by member states, these authors consider that the costs of analysis by independent laboratories should be fully covered by manufacturers. This provision is already part of the implementing directives for Articles 9 and 10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the recommendations issued for laboratory tests.[2].

The competent authorities of the various countries are generally in agreement with the principle of partial or complete coverage of these analyses by manufacturers. This contribution to costs would make it possible to increase the number of analyses, for these analyses to be systematically carried out by independent laboratories, and for the measurements carried out to be better harmonised. It would also promote better collaboration between European laboratories.

Keywords: JACT, laboratories, analyses, contribution.

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[1] Davoli E, Gallus S, Mattioli F, Lugo A, Solimini R, Domínguez F, Troasur M, Vardavas C, Fees for laboratory analyzes of tobacco and related products in Europe: the next step forward, Tob. Prev. Termination 2023;9(April):10.

[2] Tobacco product regulation: building laboratory testing capacity, WHO, published March 9, 2018, accessed April 26, 2023.