1. TSNA TASK FORCE Presented by Gary Palmer 2002 CORESTA Conference, New Orleans Preliminary Meeting April 18, 2002 F. W. Rickard Seed Farm Winchester, KY

2. TSNA TASK FORCE Preliminary Resource Team Meeting Preliminary Resource Team Meeting April 18, 2002 April 18, 2002 F. W. Rickard Seed F. W. Rickard Seed Winchester, KY Winchester, KY

3. CORESTA RESOURCE TEAM Gary Palmer University of Kentucky Cliff Bennett U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Anna Wiernik Swedish Match Lowell Bush University of Kentucky Christian de Roton Altadis - Institut du Tabac Hitoshi Saito Japan Tobacco Inc. Dale Hill Philip Morris USA George Scott Universal Leaf Tobacco Company

4. OPENING REMARKS Martin Ward (BAT), President of the CORESTA Scientific Commission Martin Ward (BAT), President of the CORESTA Scientific Commission  Explanation of the resource team assignments for proposed task forces:  Tobacco seed integrity  TSNA

5. TSNA Resource Team Assignment  Determine if objectives could be proposed and referred to the Scientific Commission for consideration in the development of a task force to advance the science and efforts to reduce TSNA’s in tobacco leaf

6. Discussions Current scientific understandings and factors that contribute to TSNA levels in tobacco Current scientific understandings and factors that contribute to TSNA levels in tobacco  led by Lowell Bush

7. Discussions Methods of detection of TSNA collaborative study - TSRC Methods of detection of TSNA collaborative study - TSRC  led by Cliff Bennett  Alkaline methylene chloride extraction method  Buffer extraction method  For both methods, recovery level about the same

8. General review of scientific studies and surveys on TSNA conducted to date: Farmer surveys in France, Japan and USA Farmer surveys in France, Japan and USA  No standard survey protocol, therefore difficult to compare results No standard approach for sampling for TSNA determinations: No standard approach for sampling for TSNA determinations:  Time and cost  Lack of guidelines

9. General Review (Cont’d) Standards for levels of nornicotine in burley vary depending on seed origin: Standards for levels of nornicotine in burley vary depending on seed origin:  USA 20% lowered to 15%  France 15%  Japan 5%

10. General Discussion Burley curing management investigation and TSNA levels vs. leaf quality needs. Burley curing management investigation and TSNA levels vs. leaf quality needs.

11. General Consensus Significant variations, seed source, curing, post curing management, etc. make comparison of results and understandings difficult Significant variations, seed source, curing, post curing management, etc. make comparison of results and understandings difficult

12. Proposed Objectives Develop a standardized nornicotine screening protocol so that baseline levels of nornicotine are comparable in tobacco seed varieties used by investigators Develop a standardized nornicotine screening protocol so that baseline levels of nornicotine are comparable in tobacco seed varieties used by investigators Develop guidelines or suggested critical survey questions for farmer practice surveys so that results can be compared within and between tobacco origins Develop guidelines or suggested critical survey questions for farmer practice surveys so that results can be compared within and between tobacco origins

13. Proposed Objectives Develop a collaborative study to investigate standard deviation for moisture content within farmer marketing packages among origins Develop a collaborative study to investigate standard deviation for moisture content within farmer marketing packages among origins Develop a collaborative study which uses hobo loggers or a suitable substitute to collect curing conditions and possible impact of TSNA levels for tobacco of diverse origins and curing environments. Attempt to standardize placement of equipment and sample protocols Develop a collaborative study which uses hobo loggers or a suitable substitute to collect curing conditions and possible impact of TSNA levels for tobacco of diverse origins and curing environments. Attempt to standardize placement of equipment and sample protocols

14. Assignment Dale Hill Dale Hill  Requested that the Scientific Commission consider current difficulties with, and provide guidance for, development of a valid sampling regime to measure TSNA’s at different stages of the crop

15. Assignment Lowell Bush Lowell Bush   Determine standards being used in different countries and types of tobacco   Determine protocol used for nornicotine determination in seed producing plants

16. Assignment Christian de Roton Christian de Roton   Summarize Curing regimes for burley and dark air cured tobacco that maintain quality while minimizing TSNA

17. Assignment Anna Wiernik Anna Wiernik   Explore factors influencing TSNA accumulation during storage   Question: Is observed increase of TSNA-content during storage of baled tobacco due to microbial activity or other mechanisms?

18. TSNA TASK FORCE MEETING Tuesday 24 Sept 17:00-17:30 Tulane Conference Room