Moxibustion standards: ISO and Chinese national standards
An overview of the international and Chinese standards that apply to moxa and moxibustion: ISO 18666 (moxibustion devices), ISO/TS 6818 (moxa floss quality), ISO/TS 25198 and ISO 21366 (smokeless), and GB/T 21709.1 (moxibustion technique).
Short answer: four ISO documents from ISO/TC 249 (Traditional medicine) cover moxa and moxibustion devices: ISO 18666:2021, ISO/TS 6818:2024, ISO 21366:2026 and ISO/TS 25198:2026 [1][2][3][4]. In China, GB/T 21709.1-2008 standardises how moxibustion is performed [5].
At a glance
| Standard | Title | What it covers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 18666:2021 | General requirements of moxibustion devices | Configuration, materials, performance and safety of devices that burn moxa floss and remain on or over the body; minimum requirements for moxibustion materials | Excludes electro and infrared imitations, and moxa floss used for direct moxibustion [1] |
| ISO/TS 6818:2024 | Test method for moxa floss quality — concentration of waste particles | Sample preparation, measurement and calculation of waste-particle concentration | Applies to moxa floss products; excludes chemically or pressure-hardened floss and carbonized floss for smokeless devices; no quality grades defined [2] |
| ISO 21366:2026 (2nd ed.) | General requirements for smokeless moxibustion devices | Smoke density, smoke generation, noxious gas, temperature, materials, packaging and labelling | Replaced the 2019 edition; smokeless limit lowered from 200 to 50 [3] |
| ISO/TS 25198:2026 | Sample preparation methods for smoke density test of smokeless moxibustion device | How to prepare samples of different shapes for ISO 21366 Annex B | Includes informative results for moxa floss, carbonized floss and smokeless products [4] |
| GB/T 21709.1-2008 (China) | Standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion — Part 1: Moxibustion | Terms and definitions, operating steps and requirements, methods, precautions and contraindications for common moxibustion | Recommended national standard; in force since 1 July 2008; reviewed 28 December 2023 and remains valid; committee TC475 [5] |
How the standards fit together
- A moxa floss supplier can use ISO/TS 6818 to report waste-particle concentration [2].
- A moxibustion device, whether a moxa box, a stick with holder or a stick-on cone, is assessed against ISO 18666 for configuration, materials, temperature and labelling [1].
- A device that claims to be smokeless must also meet ISO 21366, using ISO/TS 25198 to prepare samples [3][4].
- The technique used in Chinese clinical practice is described in GB/T 21709.1 [5].
Why the exclusions matter
- Carbonized floss is outside ISO/TS 6818 [2], so a moxa-floss quality report does not describe a charcoal stick’s finished material.
- Electric and infrared devices are outside ISO 18666 and ISO 21366 [1][3]. Calling them “smokeless moxa” mixes up two categories; see Electric moxibustion devices.
- Direct-moxibustion floss is outside ISO 18666 [1], which concerns devices that stay on or over the body.
Other standardisation work
A comparative study of Chinese and Korean clinical practice guidelines for acupuncture and moxibustion found different emphases. Chinese guidelines emphasise operating protocols and techniques; Korean guidelines emphasise frequently used clinical interventions [6].
Related pages
FAQ: related questions
Which ISO standards cover moxa?
ISO 18666:2021 (general requirements of moxibustion devices), ISO/TS 6818:2024 (moxa floss quality test), ISO 21366:2026 (smokeless moxibustion devices) and ISO/TS 25198:2026 (sample preparation for the smokeless smoke-density test), all from ISO/TC 249.
Is there a Chinese standard for moxibustion?
Yes. GB/T 21709.1-2008, Standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion — Part 1: Moxibustion, is a recommended national standard covering terms, operating procedures, methods, precautions and contraindications; it was reviewed in 2023 and remains in force.
Sources for this page
- ISO 18666:2021 General requirements of moxibustion devices. www.iso.org/standard/83343.html
- ISO/TS 6818:2024 Test method for moxa floss quality. www.iso.org/standard/82372.html
- ISO 21366:2026 sample (foreword; scope). cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/iso/iso-21366-2026/4e2f44fb7e3
- ISO/TS 25198:2026 sample preparation for smoke density test of smokeless moxibustion device. www.iso.org/standard/89375.html
- GB/T 21709.1-2008 Standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion — Part 1: Moxibustion (SAMR standard record). std.samr.gov.cn/gb/search/gbDetailed?id=71F772D76D9AD3A7E053
- Zhao et al. Differences in Contents and Formation Methods of Clinical Questions in Chinese and Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines of Acupuncture-Moxibustion: Scoping Review. Chin J Integr Med 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37658992/
Last reviewed: . Editorial note: this guide re-edits published sources; it does not provide medical advice or new research.
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