THE Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has rolled out an updated version of its standard specifications for toilet tissue, noting that it is responding to changing international standards and also an increase in local manufactures of the product.

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), meanwhile, appears to be indicating that Jamaicans are using more local products than before.

From data supplied to the Jamaica Observer, STATIN says toilet paper imports in 2020 — the last year for which data is available — were valued at $1.22 billion. That was down from the $1.46 billion in toilet tissue imports in 2019.

The data for 2020 are preliminary. Data for 2021 is still to be compiled.

However in 2020, the year in which consumers stockpiled the toilet tissue out of fear of shortages, local manufacturers stepped up production in response. In at least one case, a Jamaican manufacturer exported his first shipment to the United States in that year.

In a tweet in May 2020, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Associations said, “Jamaican company Quality Incorporations VII Ltd made history this week, packing and shipping Jamaica’s first shipment of toilet paper to the United States. There has been a shortage of toilet paper in retail outlets in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic. This shortage is mainly due to consumer hoarding and supply/demand issues.”

The BSJ listing of toilet tissue paper brands number over 300. Data from STATIN indicate that most toilet paper is imported from El Salvador, followed by Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. The product is imported from countries all over the globe, however, including Italy.

The new standards which were last year circulated by the BSJ for comment relate to determination of basis weight; determination of tensile strength; determination of bursting strength, determination of absorption time; and microbial indicators.

The BSJ commented, “Since the preparation of the original standard and its publication in 1977, followed by revisions in 1988 and 2014, a number of developments have taken place in the tissue paper industry at both the local and international levels. In our Jamaican society, the use of toilet tissue paper is extensive at home and in the workplace.”

More local manufacturers

The BSJ added, “The introduction of new manufacturers within the local industry, and the increasing levels of importation, led to more stringent quality inspections of imports at the ports of entry to ensure compliance and to create a level playing field for imported and locally manufactured toilet tissue products.”

The BSJ said that the revision of the standard has become necessary for Jamaica to address the quality of the product and begin closer testing and monitoring of toilet paper.

It stated in its introduction the 2021 standard, “By all indications there is an imperative need for safer paper or raw materials to be used to manufacture the product. The revision of the standard includes a requirement that no pathogens (bacteria, fungi and viruses) should be found when tested in accordance with the requirements in this standard. This standard is compulsory.”

The preparation of this standard for the Standards Council, established under the Standards Act 1968, was carried out under the supervision of the bureau’s tissue paper technical committee.

The standard said toilet tissue shall be manufactured from virgin, chemical or mechanical pulp or secondary fibres from the same pulp or a mixture of both or recycled paper.

The tissue shall be unglazed, soft, flexible and of even formation. The tissue shall be free from visible wood-splinters, specks, breaks, holes, wrinkles and other imperfections. The dye used in coloured rolls shall be colour fast to water and shall not be harmful or cause irritation to humans.

Additionally, the sheets comprising the roll shall be sound, ie not torn or otherwise mutilated. The start of the roll of the tissue shall be easily discernible and detachable. Single roll shall contain not less than 280 sheets. Multi-pack rolls shall contain not less than 80 sheets. A variance of plus or minus five sheets is permitted.

Sheets must have a minimum height and length as outlined in the standard. Glue spots are permissible only on the four sheets nearest the core. The roll shall be wrapped in a protective covering and closed at both ends to prevent contamination during handling and storage.

Hygienic

The standard addresses tensile strength and perforations which must be uniform and extend along the entire width of the roll. It says toilet tissue shall be manufactured, wrapped and packed and stored under hygienic conditions. These conditions include minimal handling; avoidance of direct sunlight; off-the-ground or elevated storage; and proper sanitary conditions.

Clean vehicles shall be adopted for transportation of the bathroom tissue paper so as to avoid product contamination. The toilet tissue shall be well-preserved in dry, ventilated and clean places so as to prevent rain and moisture from affecting the paper quality.

Labelling shall comply with the requirements. Ingredients would be listed including indication of scents, chemical additives/perfumes, and if textural additives are used eg aloe vera, these ingredients should be declared, the BSJ standard indicates.

In an update on May 23, the BSJ said the draft standard was still at public comments stage. The organisation noted that results of a survey of toilet tissue in July 2020 “indicated satisfactory microbiological results for all samples tested; however unsatisfactory results were noted for burst strength and label declaration of ingredients: scented/unscented and whether recycled paper is used and the percentage used”.

As a consequence industry players were called into a meeting with the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) to discuss the findings of the survey and to discuss other issues which the industry was experiencing.

When the the Standards Branch of the BSJ was informed of the findings and the NCRA submitted a request for a revision of the Jamaican Standard Specification for Toilet Paper, JS 51 and Jamaican Standard Specification for the Labelling of Paper Products, JS 1: Part 26 to be aligned with international standards and trends.

Meanwhile, monitoring of the toilet tissue industry continued throughout 2021 and 2022. The BSJ states that, as at May 2022, results have demonstrated a 91 per cent conformance level for 25 toilet tissue samples collected. An additional 29 samples were collected in April for which results are not yet available.