ISO 21147:2003

Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it — Survey and analysis of consumer-made articles

ISO 21147:2003 specifies the method of conducing a survey to determine nicotine-free dry particulate matter and nicotine yields from fine-cut smoking articles made by consumers.

Tabac de fine coupe et objets confectionnés à partir de ce type de tabac — Inventaire et analyse des objets confectionnés par le consommateur

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-Feb-2003
• ICS: 65.160 - Tobacco, tobacco products and related equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 126 - Tobacco and tobacco products
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 126 - Tobacco and tobacco products
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 07-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

ISO 21147:2003 - Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it: Survey and analysis of consumer-made articles - specifies a standardized method for surveying and analysing consumer-made fine‑cut smoking articles (FCSAs) to determine nicotine‑free dry particulate matter (NFDPM) and nicotine yields. The standard defines how to select consumer panels, collect and condition samples, perform laboratory smoke-yield testing, and report results so that studies of roll‑your‑own or hand‑rolled products are reproducible and comparable.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Objective: Measure NFDPM and nicotine yields from consumer-made FCSAs.
• Panel selection: Recruit experienced FCSA consumers (preferably daily users); the standard recommends a minimum panel size of 100 to obtain satisfactory confidence limits (pilot studies of ~40 may provide approximate findings).
• Sample production: Each consumer should make a minimum of 25 FCSAs (20 used for smoke yields, 2 for moisture, remainder for draw resistance/spares). Optionally 45 FCSAs allow two smoking runs of 20 each.
• Supply options: Tobacco and wrappers may be supplied (at normal sale moisture) or consumer-supplied; ISO 21147 notes supplying tobacco can increase tobacco use and yields, while non‑provision can affect moisture control.
• Conditioning and testing: Condition and test articles according to ISO 15592‑2 (atmosphere for conditioning/testing) and ISO 15592‑3 (routine analytical smoking machine and calculations).
• Measurements reported: Moisture content, individual and mean tobacco mass, diameter (measured at three points), draw resistance, number of puffs, NFDPM (mg), nicotine yield (mg), and smoking machine type.
• Handling and transport: Sealable, foam-lined containers and careful handling are required because consumer-made articles are highly variable and fragile.
• Statistics: Inspect data for outliers but remove only outliers due to known procedural departures; describe statistical methods used.

Applications and who uses it

• Tobacco research laboratories conducting product surveys of roll‑your‑own or hand‑rolled products.
• Public‑health researchers and epidemiologists assessing exposure from consumer‑made smoking articles.
• Regulatory authorities and standards bodies performing product surveillance and comparative studies of smoke yields.
• Industry testing labs and quality teams benchmarking consumer‑made article properties.
• Consultants and test houses preparing reproducible reports for policy, litigation, or market analysis.

Related standards

• ISO 15592‑2 - Conditioning atmosphere for fine‑cut tobacco and smoking articles.
• ISO 15592‑3:2003 - Determination of TPM, preparation for water and nicotine, and calculation of NFDPM (routine analytical smoking machine methods).

Keywords: ISO 21147:2003, fine‑cut tobacco, consumer‑made smoking articles, NFDPM, nicotine yields, roll‑your‑own, ISO 15592‑2, ISO 15592‑3, smoke yield survey.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21147
First edition
2003-03-01
Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles
made from it — Survey and analysis of
consumer-made articles
Tabac de fine coupe et objets confectionnés à partir de ce type de
tabac — Inventaire et analyse des objets confectionnés par le
consommateur
Reference number
©
ISO 2003
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ii © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 21147 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 126, Tobacco and tobacco products.
Introduction
Studies to determine the nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM) and nicotine of smoking articles made
by consumers have been reported in the literature (see Bibliography, references [1] and [2]).
The studies show that consumers make smoking articles that are extremely variable in terms of mass,
diameter, density and size. The articles are frequently badly made and have very loosely filled ends. Great
care must be taken when handling them.
It is necessary that any study should ensure that the consumers chosen are experienced in hand-rolling
smoking articles, that the number of smokers studied is large, and that the articles made are correctly
sampled and carefully transported to the testing laboratory.
The survey can be conducted either by providing tobacco and wrappers or the consumers can be asked to
provide their own.
Evidence in reference [3] shows that free tobacco provision leads to the use of more tobacco and higher
smoke yields from the articles. On the other hand, non-provision leads to less well-controlled making
conditions particularly with respect to tobacco moisture content. This factor is also known to affect article
smoke yields.
iv © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 21147:2003(E)

Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it — Survey
and analysis of consumer-made articles
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the method of conducing a survey to determine nicotine-free dry
particulate matter and nicotine yields from fine-cut smoking articles made by consumers.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 15592-2, Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it — Methods of sampling, conditioning and
analysis — Part 2: Atmosphere for conditioning and testing
ISO 15592-3:2003, Fine-cut tobacco and smoking articles made from it — Methods of sampling, conditioning
and analysis — Part 3: Determination of total particulate matter of smoking articles using a routine analytical
smoking machine, preparation for the determination of water and nicotine, and calculation of nicotine-free dry
particulate matter
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
For the purpose of this document, the following terms, definitions and abbreviated terms apply.
3.1
fine-cut tobacco
FCT
tobacco produced to be used by consumers for making their own smoking articles
3.2
fine-cut smoking article
FCSA
article, suitable for smoking, produced by combining fine-cut tobacco with a wrapper
3.3
wrapper
material specially prepared and supplied in a form suitable for enclosing fine-cut tobacco so as to produce a
fine-cut smoking article
3.4
total particulate matter
TPM
that portion of the mainstream smoke which is retained in the smoke trap
3.5
dry particulate matter
DPM
total particulate matter after deduction of its water content
3.6
nicotine-free dry particulate matter
NFDPM
dry particulate matter
...