BS ISO 4874:2020

What is ISO 4874 about?  

ISO 4874 specifies the general principles to be applied when sampling batches of raw tobacco in order to assess either: 

• The mean value of one or more of its characteristics, or 
• The heterogeneity of one or more of its characteristics 

ISO 4874 is applicable to the sampling of batches of raw tobacco of the following types: 

• Leaf tobacco: flue-cured, air-cured, sun-cured, fire-cured 
• Pretreated raw tobacco: which has undergone fermentation (in packages not intended for retail or wholesale sales or distribution, in bulk, in chambers), which has been partially or completely stemmed, which is in the form of stems, which is in the form of waste and remnants, which has been reconstituted in the form of strips 

Note: Manufactured tobacco products, including products intended for sale or distribution, are specifically not included in the scope of ISO 4874. 

Who is ISO 4874 for? 

ISO 4874 on general principles for sampling of raw tobacco is useful for: 

• Tobacco farmers 
• Manufacturers of tobacco products  
• Research and analytical laboratories 

Why should you use ISO 4874?  

The sampling of raw tobacco is necessary to perform tests to identify its characteristics. Properties of tobacco leaves like leaf position, colour, ripeness, and leaf length can help the manufacturer identify the quality of the tobacco batch. 

ISO 4874 specifies a sampling method for the tobacco that will help you to analyse the tobacco batches to determine their quality. The tobacco sampling method given in ISO 4874 helps you to prepare sample batches in accordance with the characteristics the tobacco leaves are going to be tested for. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS ISO 4874:2020 replaces ISO 4874:2000, of which it constitutes a minor revision. The changes compared to the previous edition are as follows: 

• A table of contents has been added 
• The mandatory Normative references clause (Clause 2) has been added and the subsequent clauses have been renumbered 
• Definitions in Clause 3 have been editorially revised for clarity