Counterfeit/Misrepresented Cartridge Examples

At a glance

  • Counterfeit and misrepresented cartridges may not be capable of providing the appropriate protection to workers and users.
  • This page provides examples of counterfeit and misrepresented chemical or combination chemical and particulate cartridges.
Example of a counterfeit cartridge

Buyer beware

Four counterfeit cartridges
Counterfeit cartridges

NIOSH has identified many combination chemical/filter cartridges being sold on well-known online marketplaces claiming to have chemical and P100® protection that are not part of a NIOSH Approved® respirator configuration and are misusing the registered P100 certification mark. Such cartridges and respirators have not undergone NIOSH's rigorous review process and may not provide the claimed protection level and may pose a risk to the user.

The examples above are counterfeit combination cartridges using the same part numbers (e.g., 60921, 60923, 60924 and 60926) associated with authentic 3M combination cartridges that are part of a NIOSH Approved configuration. For example, many listings incorrectly or falsely claim these cartridges can be used with the 3M 6000, 7000 and FF-400 series facepieces.

One way to identify counterfeit chemical cartridge/filters is by the missing information on the abbreviated label. The abbreviated label (i.e., markings) on cartridge/filters that are part of a NIOSH Approved configuration must indicate:

  1. The approval holder's name,
  2. Product part/model number,
  3. Protections/filter series,
  4. The acronym "NIOSH", and
  5. Lot number

Please Note: Mandatory information is missing from the counterfeit cartridges shown in the photo examples above. However, all of the information appears on the genuine cartridges shown below.

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Four genuine cartridges
Genuine cartridges

Some manufacturers/sellers that are not NIOSH approval holders may claim their cartridges/filters are compatible with facepieces manufactured by NIOSH approval holders. Users cannot use these products in place of the cartridge/filter component associated with the NIOSH Approved respirator. If so, it will void the NIOSH approval and may not provide the claimed level of protection to the user.

Additional example

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One image of product packaging and another of replacement cartridges and filters that misrepresent a NIOSH approval
Misrepresentation of a NIOSH approval

This is an example of a misrepresentation of a NIOSH Approved product. Zelbuck is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. Respirators and replacement cartridges and filters marked as Zelbuck are NOT approved by NIOSH. The NIOSH stylized logo is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. Zelbuck does not have permission to use the certification mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (12/21/2020)

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Content Source:
; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • NIOSH Approved is a certification mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions.
  • P100 is a certification mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States.