The Asia Collaborative Study (ACS) involves proficiency testing of NFDPM and nicotine in mainstream smoke. It was started in 1992 with nine laboratories from six countries when the Asian laboratories numbered only three. This report will explain the history and the latest activities of ACS.

The establishment of ACS was triggered by the ISO Standards for NFDPM and nicotine analyses which were published in 1991. The new ISO Standards were based on the CORESTA Task Force activities such as “the Review of Smoking Methods”. Several Asian government and industry laboratories felt the necessity of interlaboratory testing prior to the adoption of new ISO Standards and planned the first ACS which was reported in 1992.

Meanwhile, the Tobacco Institute of Japan (TIOJ) Collaborative Study had been started in 1989 for harmonising the TIOJ smoking method with the ISO Standards. It was performed by TIOJ members’ laboratories and the TIOJ Testing Laboratory. The technical experts of TIOJ members’ laboratories were also involved with the ACS activity. The TIOJ Collaborative Study was merged into the ACS in 1994. It was the 3rd ACS and the 8th TIOJ Collaborative Study. The TIOJ Testing Laboratory was assigned as the distributor of the ACS sample cigarettes which have been provided by TIOJ members and voluntary companies since then.

The participants of the 19th and latest ACS in 2011 included 57 laboratories from 26 countries. The Asian region laboratories were 36 and represented 63% of the total participants of the 19th ACS. The others were mainly from Europe and the Americas. They submitted 80 data sets of five sample cigarettes including the CORESTA Monitor CM6. The 19th ACS report was discussed at the 2012 ACS meeting at Bali, Indonesia on 17 May 2012. The ACS is now a global proficiency testing group organised in Asia.