EN 17375:2020

Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Reference e-liquids

This document specifies reference e-liquids to be used to test emissions generated by electronic cigarettes [1].
This document applies to the reference e-liquids to be used when an electronic cigarette is sold empty, without an e-liquid, and where the product information or instructions for use are not specific in terms of the compositional characteristics of the e-liquid to be used with the device.

Elektronische Zigaretten und Liquids für elektronische Zigaretten - Referenz-E-Liquids

Dieses Dokument legt Referenz-E-Liquids fest, die zur Prüfung der durch elektronische Zigaretten erzeugten Emissionen verwendet werden [1].
Dieses Dokument gilt für Referenz-E-Liquids, die zu verwenden sind, wenn eine elektronische Zigarette leer, ohne E-Liquid, verkauft wird und wenn die Produktinformationen oder Gebrauchsanweisungen hinsichtlich der Eigenschaften der Zusammensetzung des mit dem Gerät zu verwendenden E-Liquids nicht genau bezeichnet sind.

Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquides - E-liquides de référence

Le présent document spécifie les e-liquides de référence devant être utilisés lors des essais réalisés sur les émissions produites par les cigarettes électroniques [1].
Il s’applique aux e-liquides de référence qu’il faut utiliser lorsque la cigarette électronique est vendue vide, sans e-liquide, et quand les informations relatives au produit ou les instructions d’utilisation n’indiquent pas spécifiquement la composition du e-liquide à utiliser avec le système.

Elektronske cigarete in e-tekočine - Referenčne e-tekočine

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Jul-2020
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Jan-2021
• ICS: 65.160 - Tobacco, tobacco products and related equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 437 - Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 437/WG 4 - Requirements and test methods for emissions
• Current Stage: 9020 - Submission to 2 Year Review Enquiry - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 15-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 15-Oct-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 17375:2020 - Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Reference e-liquids

Overview

EN 17375:2020 - "Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Reference e‑liquids" (CEN) defines standard reference e‑liquids to be used for emissions testing of electronic cigarettes. It applies when a device is sold empty (without e‑liquid) and the product information does not specify the compositional characteristics of the e‑liquid to be used. The standard establishes reproducible formulations and handling rules so emissions tests are comparable across manufacturers and testing laboratories.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Reference formulations: Two reference e‑liquids are specified:
  • 70/30 (PG/VG) - PG: 67.90 ± 0.50 g/100 g; VG: 29.10 ± 0.50 g/100 g.
  • 50/50 (PG/VG) - PG: 48.00 ± 0.50 g/100 g; VG: 48.00 ± 0.50 g/100 g.
• Other components and amounts: Nicotine 1.00 ± 0.05 g/100 g; Ethanol 1.00 ± 0.05 g/100 g; Water 1.00 ± 0.10 g/100 g (70/30) or 2.00 ± 0.10 g/100 g (50/50).
• Ingredient quality specifications: Requirements reference European Pharmacopoeia monographs:
  • Propylene glycol (PG) purity ≥ 99.5%; diethylene glycol ≤ 0.1%.
  • Glycerol (VG) purity ≥ 98.0%; diethylene glycol ≤ 0.1%; total impurities ≤ 0.5%.
  • Nicotine purity ≥ 99.0%; detailed impurity limits (individual and total) specified.
  • Ethanol (undenatured) purity ≥ 95.0% with limits for methanol, acetaldehyde, benzene.
  • Purified water: conductivity, nitrates, microbiological count and TOC limits.
• Storage and handling: Store in airtight (preferably glass) containers, away from light, at 5 °C to 25 °C. Bring to ambient temperature before use. The expiry date is driven by the earliest expiry of an ingredient.
• Use window: Minimize exposure to ambient air (e‑liquids are hygroscopic); use within 24 hours after opening if stored appropriately.
• Selection guidance: Manufacturers must justify which reference (70/30 or 50/50) was used for emissions testing; guidance suggests low‑power devices generally align with 70/30 and high‑power devices with 50/50. The chosen reference e‑liquid must be indicated in product information.

Applications and users

• Who uses EN 17375:2020: product manufacturers, independent testing laboratories, conformity assessors, regulators and standards bodies involved in e‑cigarette emissions testing and compliance.
• Practical uses: ensures consistent emissions testing, improves comparability of laboratory results, supports regulatory compliance and product labeling, and informs device design/qualification when devices are supplied without e‑liquid.

Related standards and references

• Directive 2014/40/EU (tobacco‑related products regulation) - regulatory context.
• European Pharmacopoeia monographs referenced for ingredient quality (PG, VG, nicotine, ethanol, purified water).
• CEN/TC 437 - technical committee responsible for this standard.

Keywords: EN 17375:2020, reference e‑liquids, electronic cigarettes, e‑liquid composition, PG/VG ratios, emissions testing, CEN.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2020
Elektronske cigarete in e-tekočine - Referenčne e-tekočine
Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Reference e-liquids
Elektronische Zigaretten und Liquids für elektronische Zigaretten - Referenz-E-Liquids
Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquides - E-liquides de référence
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17375:2020
ICS:
65.160 Tobak, tobačni izdelki in Tobacco, tobacco products
oprema and related equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17375
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.160
English Version
Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Reference e-liquids
Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquides - E-liquides de Elektronische Zigaretten und Liquids für elektronische
référence Zigaretten - Referenz-E-Liquids
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 June 2020.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17375:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Preparation and storage of reference e-liquids . 4
4.1 General . 4
4.2 Ingredients . 5
4.3 Composition of reference e-liquids . 6
4.4 Storage of reference e-liquids . 7
5 Use of reference e-liquids . 7
5.1 Selection of reference e-liquid . 7
5.2 Period of use after opening . 7
Bibliography . 8

European foreword
This document (EN 17375:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 437 “Electronic
cigarettes and e-liquids”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2021, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2021.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies reference e-liquids to be used to test emissions generated by electronic
cigarettes [1].
This document applies to the reference e-liquids to be used when an electronic cigarette is sold empty,
without an e-liquid, and where the product information or instructions for use are not specific in terms
of the compositional characteristics of the e-liquid to be used with the device.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following address
...