If you want to sell e-cigarettes or related products (ENDS) in the European Union, you are required to submit a Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) notification six months before your product is placed on the market.

A fundamental part of the notification process is the generation of data on the safety of your product when used under reasonable and foreseeable conditions to ensure that products do not pose a risk to consumer health. This data is generated as a result of testing and analysis of your products, and involves working with a reputable TPD testing facility.

We understand that this can be a confusing and costly process, so we’ve put together this guide to help you find a TPD testing facility that understands and is able to meet your needs at a high quality level.

Whoever you choose to work with, it’s important to establish before work commences that they have the facilities to accommodate the type of testing and analysis you need.

While this may seem like an obvious step, it’s surprisingly easy to overlook some aspects of testing you will require and end up having to work with two laboratories as the first one was unable to carry out the work you require.

To ensure that you choose a laboratory who are able to carry out the testing and analysis you need, make sure you know everything you will need before you start speaking to laboratories you will potentially work with, so it’s clear what you need from the beginning, and you can be sure that whoever you choose will be able to do the work you need without any issues arising.

For TPD notifications, the following product testing is required:

Laboratories require certain certifications in order to carry out testing. Make sure that the laboratory you partner with has the certifications and licenses needed to carry out the work you need them to complete.

Laboratories are also often audited to ensure that its practices and systems are of an appropriate standard in order to ensure that their testing and analysis results are accurate and of high quality.

The laboratory should also provide you with a work agreement which confirms the work they will be completing, the methods used and how results will be documented and shared. 

Our laboratory carries ISO 17025:2017, which recognises the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories in order to check that laboratories “operate a quality system; are technically competent; and can generate technically valid results”.

An often overlooked point, but chances are that you will be in regular contact with the laboratory you decide to work with for the testing and analysis of your products, so it’s important to select a laboratory and team that you get along with, and who share your values.

When considering a laboratory to partner with, make sure that you ask questions which will help you to ensure that you are a good fit. For example, how their processes work, how often they will update you on their progress and note whether they are proactive and make any suggestions about the work they will be completing for you, as this shows their expertise and indicates that they are taking a genuine interest in your company.

At Inter Scientific, we have our own state of the art laboratory to provide analytical, mechanical and electronics testing. Our laboratory is designed to offer a single point solution for clients’ needs, whether for non-clinical studies for pharmaceutical development, ENDS characterisation or testing for compliance of novel foods.

Whether you’re a one-person start-up or a multinational organization, getting the right testing and analysis to submit your TPD notification can be challenging and costly. Our experts can assist you in every stage of the product life-cycle from product development, through to post launch activities.

Click here to learn more about our TPD testing and analysis services, or contact info@inter-scientific.com to find out how we can meet your needs. 

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