SIST-TP CEN/TR 17989:2023

Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Terms and definitions

This document defines terms, symbols and units of measurement related to electronic cigarettes and e-liquids in order to harmonize the terminology.

Elektronische Zigaretten und E-Liquids - Begriffe

Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquids - Termes et définitions

Le présent document définit les termes, symboles et unités de mesure en rapport avec les cigarettes électroniques et les e-liquides en vue d’harmoniser la terminologie.

Elektronske cigarete in e-tekočine - Pojmi in opredelitve

Ta dokument določa izraze, simbole in merske enote v zvezi z elektronskimi cigaretami in e-tekočinami z namenom uskladitve terminologije.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 05-Nov-2023
• ICS: 65.160 - Tobacco, tobacco products and related equipment
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 03-Nov-2023
• Due Date: 08-Jan-2024
• Completion Date: 06-Nov-2023
• Ref Project: CEN/TR 17989:2023 - Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Terms and definitions

Overview

CEN/TR 17989:2023 - "Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Terms and definitions" is a CEN Technical Report (prepared by CEN/TC 437, approved October 2023) that establishes harmonized terminology, symbols and units of measurement for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and e-liquids. The document covers general vocabulary, device components, e-liquid ingredients and properties, and emissions-related terms to promote consistent use of language across industry, testing and regulatory activities. There are no normative references in this report.

Key topics

The report organizes defined terms into clear categories and includes examples and notes where helpful. Major technical topics include:

• General terms: e-cigarette/e-liquid definitions, distinction from tobacco products, open vs closed systems, batch number/specification, vaping.
• Device components: mouthpiece, atomiser/atomiser head, coil, wick/wicking material, power unit (battery and electronics), cartridge/cartomiser/clearomizer, air-flow port, control switch, cut-off, accessories.
• E-liquid terms: base liquid, ingredient, additive, flavouring, nicotine (CAS 54-11-5), grade (food/pharmaceutical), purified water references (Ph. Eur./USP), child-resistant and tamper-evident features.
• Emissions and measurements: aerosol (and note on “vapour”), aerosol collected mass (ACM), e-cigarette mass loss (e-cigML), e-liquid vaporized mass (EVM), pressure drop; ACM and e-cigML are expressed in mg.
• Traceability concepts: product batch, batch specification, unit packet and importer/manufacturer roles.

Practical applications

CEN/TR 17989:2023 is a foundational terminology resource with direct practical value:

• Enables consistent product documentation, labeling and specification for manufacturers and suppliers of electronic cigarettes and e-liquids.
• Supports testing laboratories and quality assurance teams by standardizing terms used in test reports and analytical methods.
• Assists regulators and policy makers in drafting clear rules and standards by removing ambiguity in definitions (e.g., open vs closed systems, tamper-evident, child-resistant).
• Improves supply‑chain traceability through agreed definitions for batch numbers and batch specifications.
• Helps product designers and safety engineers communicate requirements for components (coils, wicks, power units) and consumer safety features.

Who should use this standard

• E-cigarette and e-liquid manufacturers and designers
• Testing and calibration laboratories
• Regulatory authorities and compliance teams
• Standards developers and technical committees
• Importers, distributors and quality managers

Related standards

• ISO 20768 (routine analytical vaping machines) - referenced in emissions term notes.
• Pharmacopoeia monographs (Ph. Eur./USP) - referenced for purified water quality.

CEN/TR 17989:2023 is an essential reference for anyone seeking consistent, industry-wide language around electronic cigarettes, e-liquids, device components, emissions measurements and product traceability.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2023
Elektronske cigarete in e-tekočine - Pojmi in opredelitve
Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Terms and definitions
Elektronische Zigaretten und E-Liquids - Begriffe
Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquids - Termes et définitions
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 17989:2023
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.

CEN/TR 17989
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
October 2023
TECHNISCHER REPORT
ICS 65.160
English Version
Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids - Terms and definitions
Cigarettes électroniques et e-liquids - Termes et Elektronische Zigaretten und E-Liquids - Begriffe
définitions
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 28 August 2023. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 437.

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, Türkiye 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
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 17989:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4

European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 17989:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 437
“Electronic cigarettes and e-liquids”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
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.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
1 Scope
This document defines terms, symbols and units of measurement related to electronic cigarettes and e-
liquids in order to harmonize the terminology.
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.
3.1 General Terms
3.1.1
aerosol
system of colloidal particles suspended in gas generated by the use of an e-cigarette
Note 1 to entry: Vapour is a generally accepted (but scientifically incorrect) term for aerosol.
3.1.2
batch number
unique number which identifies a specific product batch
3.1.3
batch specification
document itemizing the inputs and processes for manufacturing a specific product batch, that can be used
for batch traceability purposes
3.1.4
closed system
electronic cigarette with prefilled e-liquid disposable cartomisers or cartridges
3.1.5
electronic cigarette
product, that vapourises e-liquid to generate an inhalable aerosol carried by air drawn through the device
by the user
Note 1 to entry: Electronic cigarette is also referred to as e-cig, vapour product, vaping product, personal
vapouriser or ENDS/ENNDS.
Note 2 to entry: Electronic cigarette differs from tobacco products in that they do not contain tobacco.
1+2+3+4+5 = electronic cigarette (3.1.5)
Key
2+3+4+5  device (3.2.10)
2, 3, 4 o 5  component (3.2.7)
6, 7 etc.  accessory (3.2.1)
Figure 1 — Electronic cigarette
3.1.6
e-liquid
base liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine and/or additives, intended for transformation into an
aerosol by an electronic cigarette
3.1.7
importer
owner of, or a person having the right of disposal over, products that have been brought into the territory
of the intended market
3.1.8
manufacturer
any natural or legal person who manufactures a product or has a product designed or manufactured, and
markets that product under their name or trademark
3.1.9
open system
refillable electronic cigarette where the user fills/refills a reservoir with e-liquid
3.1.10
product batch
products manufactured in a defined production schedule and specified volume from identified
components/base ingredients according to the batch specification
3.1.11
unit packet
smallest individual packaging of a product that is placed on the market
...