E-liquid Testing Labs

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Analytical Laboratory Testing of E-liquids

E-liquid testing is an important part of TPD compliance. Article 20(2)(b) of the Tobacco Products Directive requires e-liquid manufacturers to get products tested at an analytical laboratory before sale in the EU but it does not specify lab location requirements; manufacturers are free to do e-liquid testing at a lab in the UK or further afield. However, there are some benefits of testing in the UK, including:

Language

English is widely spoken at the agencies in the EU, which is important because they will need to understand the test method (submitted as part of the notification). However, it can be beneficial to communicate with the agency in the local language particularly when dealing with tricky compliance issues.

Technical staff and equipment

E-liquid testing is a specialist area and requires specially trained technical staff and bespoke equipment. Many UK labs often provide a similar service for large global pharmaceutical companies so they are more likely to have the required experience and equipment.

E-liquid testing at a specialist lab is a TPD requirement

How to test an e-liquid

E-liquid testing involves drawing on an e-cigarette containing the candidate e-liquid and capturing the emitted chemicals and metals under controlled conditions by an experienced laboratory technician. The emissions (name and quantity) are reported in the product notification to the authorities. Some examples of the reported emissions include:

Aldehydes: acrolein, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde

Metals: aluminium, chromium, cadmium, tin, mercury, iron, lead

In addition, an indication of the nicotine dose of the product is to be reported. This involves capturing the nicotine in several series of puffs.

The method of the test that was used to capture the emissions must also be submitted. The report should contain enough detailed information for the authorities to be able to replicate the method.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1538960543164{padding: 20px !important;background-color: rgba(119,237,73,0.71) !important;*background-color: rgb(119,237,73) !important;border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.84) !important;}”]

How can we help?

E-liquid testing is one of the many services we offer to our clients. We have helped a variety of e-cig companies, from large manufacturers to small retailers and importers get products tested for notification purposes (read a testimonial or case study).

Our primary goal is to ease the burden and cost of TPD testing while ensuring the TPD requirements are met. Please contact us to learn more about how we can help.

About the labs we use

When we arrange testing on behalf of our clients we only use selected labs that meet specific criteria, which include:

• well established and experienced in analytical testing
• independent of the e-cigarette industry (to mitigate competing interests)
• specially trained staff
• quality test report write-up

Our labs typically use the following equipment/techniques in the analysis:

• High performance liquid chromatography – to detect aldehydes
• Inductively coupled plasma / mass spectrometry – to quantify metals
• Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry – for nicotine analysis

Tests on the liquid

We also offer testing on the liquid itself – sometimes referred to as ‘non-emissions testing’, where required.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]