A Comprehensive Guide to Inspection, Testing and Certification of Tissue Products (Facial Tissues, Toilet Paper, Wet Wipes, Kitchen Paper)

May 11, 2026

In daily life, there are numerous types of tissues, and the standards, hygiene requirements, and applicable scenarios for different tissues are completely different. As a quality inspector or purchaser, one needs to master the key points of inspection and certification for various tissues to ensure product compliance and safety. This article systematically reviews the inspection, factory inspection, and certification knowledge of tissue products from aspects such as bacterial content, wood pulp raw materials, fluorescent whitening agents, usage classification, and purchasing methods.
1. Different types of tissues, different inspection standards
Many people mistakenly believe that facial tissues and toilet paper can be used interchangeably. In fact, there are significant differences in hygiene inspection indicators between the two.
Bacterial Content Requirements (Microbial Testing)
Hand Towels: Direct contact with the face. The bacterial content per gram must not exceed 200 CFU/g (National Mandatory Standard).
Toilet paper: The requirements are relatively loose. As long as the bacterial count per gram is ≤ 600 CFU/g, it is considered qualified.
→ During the inspection, it is necessary to check the colony count index in the third-party inspection report.
2. Requirements for Papermaking Wood Pulp (Raw Material Certification)
Primary wood pulp: All raw materials must be new. Facial tissue paper must use 100% primary wood pulp (in compliance with national hygiene standards).
Pure wood pulp: May contain recycled materials and is commonly used in toilet paper.
→ During inspection, it is necessary to check the product label. If facial tissue is labeled as "pure wood pulp", it is non-compliant and should be rejected.
→ During factory inspection, the supplier's proof of wood pulp origin and certification documents (such as FSC sustainable forest certification) should be verified.
3. Requirements for Fluorescent Whitening Agents (Chemical Safety Inspection)
Handkerchief paper: Prohibit the presence of migratory fluorescent whitening agents to prevent skin damage.
Toilet paper: The national hygiene standards do not explicitly limit the content of fluorescent whitening agents.
→ During the inspection process, a UV lamp can be used for rapid screening, and the supplier is required to provide an inspection report (such as GB/T 27741-2011).
II. Different Types of Paper Towels, Different Uses (Please check the product claims during inspection)
Paper Towel Type Primary Use Key Performance Tests
Face Towel For Facial Wiping, Mouth Wiping Softness, Wet Tensile Strength, No Fluorescent Whitening Agents
Sanitary Paper For Toilet Use Dispersion Resistance (To Prevent Toilet Blockage), Bacterial Content
Wet Towel For Disinfection and Cleaning Disinfection Rate (Efficacy against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus), pH Value, Preservatives
Kitchen Paper For Cleaning Food, Absorbing Oil and Water Oil Absorption, Water Absorption, Wet Strength
Inspection Reminder: They cannot be substituted for each other. Face Towels are too tough and may cause blockage if thrown into the toilet; Wet Towels contain disinfectant components and should not be used for facial wiping; Kitchen Paper is not suitable for facial cleaning.
III. How to Choose Toilet Paper? - Four Steps for Inspection
① Select: Choose the right one, not just the cheapest
Toilet paper is divided into three grades: superior grade, first grade, and qualified grade. The softness, water absorption, and toughness decrease in order.
→ When inspecting, pay attention to checking the quality grade indicated on the packaging to avoid mistaking qualified products for superior ones.
② Check: Review the packaging details (label certification)
It must indicate the "Health Approval Number" (approved by the provincial or higher-level health administrative department).
The raw materials should be selected as "100% virgin wood pulp".
During the inspection, check whether the labels are complete and clear, and whether they comply with the "Product Quality Law" and the certification requirements (such as CE, FSC, etc.).
③ Touch: Feel the texture, test the toughness
High-quality tissues feel soft and smooth when touched. They do not shed fibers or powder when being rubbed.
Pulling the tissue paper gently should result in it resisting wrinkling but not breaking; inferior tissue paper tears immediately upon being pulled (low content of wood pulp).
→ During the inspection process, a simple tensile test can be conducted as a supplement to the visual inspection.
④ Smell: Detect the odor
There is no chemical agent odor (such as bleach, fragrance).
When choosing facial tissues, opt for those without fragrance to avoid residual fragrance.
→ If you smell a pungent odor during the inspection, it can be determined that the product is not qualified.
IV. Safety Recommendations (Inspection and Supply Chain Management Key Points)
✅ Always keep various types of tissues at home, and do not mix them.
Purchase sufficient quantities of toilet paper and facial tissues; purchase kitchen paper and wipes as needed.
→ During the inspection, it is necessary to check whether the factory has multiple product lines and clear zone markings.
✅ Use up within 1 month after opening.
After opening, it is prone to moisture and bacterial growth. It should be stored in a tissue box and sealed.
→ Check the packaging seal and moisture-proof design during the inspection.
✅ Wet wipes cannot replace handwashing
Wet wipes contain chemical agents such as propylene glycol, which will remain on the hands.
→ Certification requirement: Wet wipe products should be labeled with warnings such as "Not a substitute for handwashing".
✅ Bring your own tissues when dining out
Some roadside restaurants use roll-type toilet paper instead of napkins. The limit for the total number of bacterial colonies is 500 CFU/g (while for facial tissues, it is 200 CFU/g). Long-term use may spread bacteria through the digestive tract.
→ During inspection, if it is found that the paper used for dining does not meet the standard of facial tissues, it should be judged as a serious defect.
V. Summary: From inspection to certification, safeguarding the safety of paper products
Inspection: Strictly conduct tests on bacterial content, raw materials, fluorescent whitening agents, toughness, etc., and verify the packaging labels and quality grades.
Factory inspection: Verifying the production qualifications of suppliers, raw material purchase records, calibration of testing equipment, and aseptic packaging environment.
Inspection: Entrust a third-party laboratory to conduct regular sampling tests for indicators such as microorganisms and chemical residues.
Certification: We prioritize the purchase of products that have obtained FSC, ISO 9001 and health/safety certifications.
Through the above-mentioned full-process quality control, we can ensure that the tissue products are safe and compliant, truly meeting the health needs of consumers. For more inspection knowledge, please continue to follow this column.