At a glance
- Counterfeit and misrepresented filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may not be capable of providing the appropriate respiratory protection to workers and users.
- This page provides examples of counterfeit and misrepresented FFRs and resources to identify NIOSH Approved® FFRs.
Signs of a counterfeit FFR
- Does not include all the required label markings on the FFR
- NIOSH spelled incorrectly
- Has decorative fabric or other decorative add-ons (e.g., sequins)
- Claims to be approved for children (NIOSH does not approve any type of respiratory protection for children)
- The use of ear loops that do not use a fastener to connect them behind the head.
- A NIOSH Approved respirator would have a much more common set of two head bands (one of which goes over the crown of the head, and the other that sits at the base of the neck) or ear loops that are approved to use with a connecting fastener
- A NIOSH Approved respirator would have a much more common set of two head bands (one of which goes over the crown of the head, and the other that sits at the base of the neck) or ear loops that are approved to use with a connecting fastener
If you suspect you have a counterfeit or misrepresented respirator, contact NIOSH at ppeconcerns@cdc.gov.
Examples
Guangzhou Zhen Tao Culture Media Co., Ltd. is marketing Benehal Model 8865 as a NIOSH Approved respirator for kids. NIOSH does not approve filtering facepiece respirators for children. Suzhou Sanical Protective Product Manufacturing Co. Ltd. manufactures Benehal Model 8865, under NIOSH approval number TC-84A-7449. However, this unit is not approved by NIOSH as an FFR for children. (12/17/2021)
SafeShield’s marketing of model FS-N95 is misleading and may cause users to believe it is approved by NIOSH. SafeShield references certification to NIOSH CFR 42.84 180-181 and TEB-APR-STP-0059. This information is inaccurate. SafeShield is not a NIOSH approval holder or private label assignee, and model FS-N95 is NOT approved by NIOSH. (12/1/2021)
Megha International is marketing the Feel Safe Mask N95 in a package marked NIOSH Certification. Megha International is not a NIOSH approval holder or private label assignee. Feel Safe Mask N95 is NOT approved by NIOSH. N95 is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. Megha International does not have permission not use this certification mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (11/5/2021)
Sobmex is marketing numerous FFRs with NIOSH listed on the technical specifications sheet. Sobmex is not a NIOSH approval holder or private label assignee. Sobmex respirators are NOT approved by NIOSH. The NIOSH stylized logo is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. Sobmex does not have permission to use this certification mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (9/9/2021)
U-SAFE is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label assignee. U-SAFE models B120 and B130 N95 particulate respirator are not approved by NIOSH. The NIOSH stylized logo is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. U-SAFE does not have permission to use this certification mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (4/30/2021)
Osprey is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label assignee. The Osprey N95 particulate respirator is not approved by NIOSH. (4/21/2021)
EPC Product, LLC is misrepresenting product manufactured by their company as a NIOSH Approved respirator. Models sold by EPC, including but not limited to, PT-N95F-01, PT-N95C-02, and PT-N95CS-02 are NOT approved by NIOSH. EPC Product, LLC is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (3/26/2021)
Yamada Safety First is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. Yamada brand masks, including models 5241 and 8242, are not approved by NIOSH. (12/3/2020)
Neither Pangolin nor Pangocare is a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. Pangocare models MSKP4001 and MSKP4002 are not approved by NIOSH. N95® is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. Pangolin and Pangocare do not have permission to use this mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (12/3/2020)
Model TY 0424 is not approved by NIOSH. Xiantao Fushi Protective Products Co., Ltd. is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. N95 is a registered certification mark owned by HHS. Xiantao Fushi Protective Products Co., Ltd. does not have permission to use this mark because this is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. (11/5/2020)
DUKAL is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (10/22/2020)
*Associated User Notice—.
Products labeled as ECO Solutions NIOSH N95 are NOT approved by NIOSH. (9/29/2020)
NIOSH received notice of a misrepresentation of NIOSH approval for Valmy model VRN95. This model has not been approved by NIOSH since 2017. This product is no longer compliant to the NIOSH approval. (8/25/2020)
INSAFE is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (8/25/20)
Products labeled as DermaCare or Espomega, with model numbers HY8710, HY8812, and HY8816, are NOT approved by NIOSH. (8/7/2020)
Intech Safety Pvt. Ltd. is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (8/7/2020)
NIOSH received notice of websites selling and misrepresenting SAS model 8617A as NIOSH approved under TC-84A-4276. This is no longer a valid NIOSH approval number. SAS allowed private labeling for this model until SAS voluntarily rescinded the NIOSH approval in 2014. Additionally, SAS did not give permission for the manufacturing or selling of this product. (7/16/2020)
This counterfeit respirator uses NIOSH approval holder Shining Star Electronic Technology’s NIOSH approval number (TC-84A-8125, model SS6001-N95) without their permission. The counterfeit box is glossy and primarily green, and the package contains 2 stacks of 10 units. TC-84A-8125 is a valid NIOSH approval number. However, please take extra precautions when purchasing to ensure you receive the authentic product and not the counterfeit version. (7/10/2020)
NIOSH has not issued any letters to Foshan Flying Medical Products Co., Ltd. Alterations to this letter made it appear that Foshan Flying Medical Products was the recipient. Any N95 FFRs for sale accompanied by this letter are NOT approved by NIOSH. (6/3/2020)
Translation of letter: "Makrite Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd has not signed any purchase contracts or agreement with any company or issued any distribution authorization. Anyone claiming that they have authorization or a purchase contract with Makrite Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd is forgery and infringement. In case of any business or individual claiming to have the authorization letter or certification from Makrite Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd, please report to the police immediately."
Makrite Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of NIOSH approval holder Makrite Industries Inc. They issued a notice to alert customers of a product potentially manufactured without the permission of Makrite. This product may also appear as a misrepresentation of NIOSH approval. (5/15/2020)
Products made by Jiangyin Chang-hung Industrial or labeled GRANDE are not approved by NIOSH. The numbers listed on the packaging, TC-84A-4503, -84A-4639, -84A-4643, and -84A-4646, are not valid NIOSH approval numbers. (5/14/2020)
The website, , misrepresents these two examples of respirators as approved by NIOSH. The website lists the SEKURA-321 as approved by NIOSH with approval number TC-84A-6660. This is a valid NIOSH approval number issued to Makrite. However, the website is selling a counterfeit respirator and using Makrite's approval number without their permission. The second example is MIUTON. The website misrepresents it as NIOSH certified but is not approved by NIOSH. (5/13/2020)
The counterfeit respirator uses Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Co. Ltd’s NIOSH approval number, TC 84A-4335, without their permission. SOUND is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (4/28/2020)
NIOSH did not issue the above letter and test report to Shenzhen Ende Medical Technology Co., Ltd. Although they appear to be from NIOSH, these documents include alterations and false information. Shenzhen Ende Medical Technology Co., Ltd. is not a NIOSH approval holder. Any N95 FFRs from Shenzhen Ende claiming NIOSH approval or accompanied by these documents are not approved by NIOSH.(4/27/2020)
These counterfeit respirators use Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Co. Ltd's NIOSH approval numbers without their permission. These models include, but are not limited to, models:
- DTC3X (marked as TC-84A-4329)
- DTC3W (marked as TC-84A-4335)
- DTC3B (marked as TC-84A-4336)
- DTC3Z (marked as TC-84A-8150)
- Raxwell RX9501P.
Note that any SDH respirators with ear loops are not approved by NIOSH. (4/17/2020)
G & F Products is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (4/9/2020)
Any respirators sold as Maskin are no longer approved by NIOSH. They are counterfeit, or they are no longer compliant to the NIOSH approval. (4/9/2020)
Medicos is selling an N95 respirator using the Moldex approval number and label without Moldex’s permission. Medicos is not a NIOSH approval holder or private label holder. (3/12/2020)
Yark is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. Additionally, respirators from the box include the CE (European) approval mark and NIOSH N95. This is not an acceptable format for a NIOSH Approved respirator. (3/5/2020)
The Guangzhou Weini Technology & Development Co., Ltd. (GWT) respirator with model number K320 is not NIOSH approved. NIOSH rescinded GWT respirator approvals in 2009. Please refer to our for more information. GWT respirators bearing any NIOSH approval number listed on the user notice is not approved by NIOSH. (2/10/2020)
There are no markings on the face of the respirator. (11/6/2019)
NIOSH does not approve any type of respiratory protection for kids. (11/6/2019)
There are no markings on the face of the respirator. (11/6/2019)
This product is not approved by NIOSH. Look at the markings on the front. The logo is wrong, there is no approval number (TC-84A-xxxx). (11/6/2019)
PitBull Safety Products is not a NIOSH approval holder nor are they a NIOSH private label holder. (10/07/2019)
Valpro Safety uses 3M’s approval number (TC-84A-0007) to sell the Ranger 821 and Ranger 821V respirators. 3M did not give Valpro Safety permission to use their approval number or label. (6/19/19)
Pacifico Salud SAC is selling units using Suzhou Sanical Protection (SSP) approval number (TC-84A-6766) and label without SSP’s permission. Additionally, there are two errors on the respirator package. The first error is that they claim the N95 respirator is 96% efficient. The bottom right corner of the package includes the second error. It states the respirator is manufactured by Benehal China, who is not a NIOSH approval holder. (1/4/2019)
This counterfeit respirator, NT-V2 Nano Bi-Directional respirator, is advertised as a NIOSH approved, using a NIOSH approval number. The counterfeit respirator uses a 3M TC number (TC 84A-0427) without 3M’s permission. Additionally, the TC number belongs to a 3M full facepiece respirator with cartridges. Pasture Pharma did not manufacture this counterfeit respirator.
This respirator is not a NIOSH Approved respirator. FitSeal, is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder. (2/19/2019)
NIOSH rescinded all approvals for Wein Products (WPI) in 2011. However, the manufacturer's website continues to state the ViraMask N99ESC is NIOSH certified. .
NIOSH received notice of a counterfeit N95 respirator. The TC number and private label holder are valid. However, note the misspelling of NIOSH on the front of the respirator.
These counterfeit respirators are sold as if they are approved by NIOSH. However, the manufacturer, Zubi-Ola, is not a NIOSH approval holder or a private label holder.
- N95 and NIOSH Approved are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions.