Originally, a Routine Analytical Chemistry Task Force was established in 1985 (changed into a Sub-Group in 1995) to develop new CORESTA Recommended Methods (CRMs) for routine chemical analysis.

The Routine Analytical Chemistry (RAC) Sub-Group has developed and evaluated more than 30 CRMs since 1985 in numerous international inter-laboratory studies.

In addition, the Sub-Group has organized the manufacture and validation of CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces validated for nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM), nicotine and carbon monoxide measurements in mainstream smoke and for ignition propensity testing.

Currently, this Sub-Group consists of members from tobacco product manufacturers, instrument suppliers, non-tobacco material suppliers, commercial analytical laboratories, academia and others.

The RAC Sub-Group's revised objectives, as listed above, were approved by the Scientific Commission and the Board in June 2018.​

CORESTA Recommended Methods

The RAC Sub-Group takes responsibility for maintaining CRMs including those developed by Sub-Groups disbanded over time. Many CRMs have become ISO standards.

CRMs developed by RAC

• CRM 09: Determination of Nicotine in Cigarette Filters by Gas Chromatographic Analysis
• CRM 12: Determination of Alkaloids in Cigarette Smoke Condensate
• CRM 13: Determination of Alkaloid Retention by Cigarette Filters
• CRM 15: Cigarettes - Determination of Water in Smoke Condensates - Karl Fischer Method
• CRM 20: Determination of Alkaloids in Manufactured Tobacco
• CRM 24: Cigarettes – Sampling
• CRM 36: Determination of Nitrate in Tobacco and Smokeless Tobacco Products by Reduction to Nitrite and Continuous Flow Analysis
• CRM 37: Determination of Reducing Substances in Tobacco by Continuous Flow Analysis
• CRM 38: Determination of Reducing Carbohydrates in Tobacco by Continuous Flow Analysis
• CRM 39: Determination of the Purity of Nicotine and Nicotine Salts by Gravimetric Analysis - Tungstosilicic Acid Method
• CRM 54: Determination of Nicotine and Nicotine-Free Dry Particulate Matter in Sidestream Smoke using a Fishtail Chimney and a Routine Analytical/Linear Smoking Machine
• CRM 55: Determination of Carbon Monoxide in the Vapour Phase of Cigarette Sidestream Smoke using a Fishtail Chimney and a Routine Analytical/Linear Smoking Machine
• CRM 56: Determination of Water in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Karl Fischer Method
• CRM 57: Determination of Water in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Gas Chromatographic Analysis
• CRM 59: Determination of Triacetin in Filter Rods by Gas Chromatographic Analysis.
• CRM 60: Determination of 1,2-Propylene Glycol and Glycerol in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Gas Chromatography
• CRM 61: Determination of 1,2-Propylene Glycol, Glycerol and Sorbitol in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
• CRM 62: Determination of Nicotine in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Gas Chromatographic Analysis
• CRM 85: Tobacco - Determination of the Content of Total Alkaloids as Nicotine - Continuous-Flow Analysis Method using KSCN/DCIC
• CRM 89: Tobacco – Determination of the Content of Total Sugars – Continuous-Flow Analysis Method using Hydrochloric Acid / P-Hydroxy Benzoic Acid Hydrazide (PAHBAH)
• CRM 92: Determination of Menthol in Cigarettes and Cut Filler by Gas Chromatography

CRMs developed by disbanded Task Forces and Sub-Groups

• CRM 05: Determination of Carbon Monoxide in the Mainstream Smoke of Cigarettes by Non-Dispersive Infrared Analysis (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 07: Determination of Nicotine in the Mainstream Smoke of Cigarettes by Gas Chromatographic Analysis (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 08: Determination of Water in the Mainstream Smoke of Cigarettes by Gas Chromatographic Analysis (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 21: Atmosphere for Conditioning and Testing Tobacco and Tobacco Products (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 22: Routine Analytical Cigarette-Smoking Machine: Specifications, Definitions and Standard Conditions (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 23: Determination of Total and Nicotine-Free Dry Particulate Matter using a Routine Analytical Cigarette-Smoking Machine Determination of Total Particulate Matter and Preparation for Water and Nicotine (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 25: Ambient Air-Flow around Cigarettes in Routine Analytical Smoking Machines: Control and Monitoring (Smoking Methods TF)
• CRM 33: Determination of Acetate in Cigarette Paper (Burning Additives TF)
• CRM 34: Determination of Citrate in Cigarette Paper (Burning Additives TF)
• CRM 42: Atmosphere for Conditioning and Testing Fine-Cut Tobacco and Fine-Cut Smoking Articles (RYO TF)
• CRM 43: Fine-Cut Tobacco – Sampling (RYO TF)
• CRM 45: Determination of Phosphate in Cigarette Paper (Burning Additives TF)
• CRM 50: Environmental Tobacco Smoke – Determination of Nicotine and 3-Ethenylpyridine in the Vapour Phase (ETS SG)
• CRM 51: Environmental Tobacco Smoke – Estimation of its Contribution to Respirable Suspended Particles – Determination of Particulate Matter by Ultraviolet Absorbance and by Fluorescence (ETS SG)
• CRM 52: Environmental Tobacco Smoke – Estimation of its Contribution to Respirable Suspended Particles – Method based on Solanesol Determination (ETS SG)

CRMs developed in conjunction with the CORESTA Tobacco and Tobacco Products Analytes (TTPA) Sub-Group:

• CRM 79: Determination of Ammonia in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Ion Chromatographic Analysis

CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces developed and validated

CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces for NFDPM / Nicotine / CO in mainstream smoke

• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 3 (CM 3) developed in 1998
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 4 (CM 4) developed in 2002
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 5 (CM 5) developed in 2005
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 6 (CM 6) developed in 2008
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 7 (CM 7) developed in 2011
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 8 (CM 8) developed in 2015
• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece No. 9 (CM 9) developed in 2018

From CM 6 onwards, CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces were produced in accordance with CORESTA Guide No. 8 - CORESTA Monitor Test Piece Production and Evaluation Requirements.

CORESTA Monitor Test Pieces for Ignition propensity (IP)

• CORESTA Monitor Test Piece IP No. 2 (CM IP 2) developed in 2015

Guides

The RAC Sub-Group has also developed two Guides:

• Guide No. 8 - CORESTA Monitor Test Piece Production and Evaluation Requirements
• Guide No. 24 - Sample Handling of Mentholated Cigarettes and Cut Filler

Technical Reports

For the development of CRMs, the RAC Sub-Group conducts international collaborative studies to come to a consensus method and to assess the variability and possible limitations of the method. Results are statistically evaluated and summarized in Technical Reports respectively. These reports are made publicly available on the CORESTA website.

In addition to determining the variability of the method, these reports also allow the participants to assess their own performance compared to other laboratories and to prove competency for accreditation purposes.

Updated January 2021