The Sidestream Task Force was created in March 1999 with the objective of developing a method for the collection and evaluation of sidestream “tar”, nicotine and carbon monoxide.

The Task Force activity during the period 2001-2002 covered essentially five phases:

• Evaluate the collaborative study results, and issue a draft Coresta Recommended method (CRM 54) for the determination of nicotine and NFDPM yields in sidestream smoke.
• Determine the leading sources of discrepancy in the analytical determinations of the CO yields among the participating laboratories. From the results of the failed collaborative study, more robust procedures were established that could be followed by the different participating laboratories.
• Select and distribute the sets of cigarettes to be used for the tests, and perform a full collaborative study on the determinations of the CO (and optionally CO2) yield in sidestream smoke following the new protocol.
• Based on the evaluation of the collaborative study results, issue a draft Coresta Recommended method (CRM 55) for the determination of CO yields in sidestream smoke.
• Address the issue of recommending a monitor for the statistical control of the determinations and provide initial data for the recommended monitor (CM4).

This report covers the work of the Task Force from 2001-2002. A separate report covers the earlier work done from 2000-2001.

The work ended with the publication of the CORESTA Recommended Method (CRM) Nos. 54 and 55.