Last updated: August 21, 2023
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health and Danish Safety Technology Authority
The law prohibits the marketing of cigarettes and rolling tobacco that:
- Have a distinctive flavor;
- Contain flavoring substances in their components, such as filters, paper, packaging, capsules, or any technical feature that makes it possible to modify their aroma, taste, or smoke intensity; and
- Consist of filter, paper or capsules containing tobacco or nicotine.
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, that contain:
- Vitamins or other additives which give the impression of a health benefit;
- Caffeine, taurine, or other additives and stimulant compounds;
- Additives that have coloring properties for emissions;
- Additives that have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties in non-combusted form; and
- Additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health
Act No. 965 of 2019 authorizes the Ministry of Health to set limits for the maximum content of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide in emissions from cigarettes. Order No. 669 of 2016 sets the maximum limits at: 10 mg tar per cigarette; 1 mg nicotine per cigarette; and 10 mg carbon monoxide per cigarette.
Sugars and sweeteners (other than those added to replace sugars lost during the curing process)
Examples of sugars and sweeteners include: glucose, molasses, honey and sorbitol.
The law prohibits the marketing of cigarettes with a “distinctive flavor”. “Distinctive flavor” is defined as a prominent fragrance or taste other than tobacco that is the result of an additive or combination of additives, including fruits, spices, herbs, alcohol, sweets, menthol, or vanilla, and that is perceived as fragrance or tasted before or during consumption of the tobacco product. The law authorizes the Danish Health Authority to set rules and determine whether a specific tobacco products has a “distinctive flavor”. Because limited use of sugars and sweeteners might be allowed if it does not create a distinctive flavor, the regulatory status “Some Restrictions” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it regulates ingredients used to increase palatability such as sugars and sweeteners in cigarettes.
Menthol, mint or spearmint (including analogues and derivatives)
The law prohibits the marketing of cigarettes with a “distinctive flavor”. “Distinctive flavor” is defined as a prominent fragrance or taste other than tobacco that is the result of an additive or combination of additives, including menthol. Therefore, the use of menthol, mint or spearmint in cigarettes is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it regulates ingredients used to increase palatability such as menthol, mint, or spearmint in cigarettes.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
The law prohibits the marketing of cigarettes with a “distinctive flavor”. “Distinctive flavor” is defined as a prominent fragrance or taste other than tobacco that is the result of an additive or combination of additives, including spices and herbs. Therefore, the use of spices and herbs in cigarettes is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it regulates ingredients used to increase palatability such as spices and herbs (excluding mint) in cigarettes.
Other flavorings (not covered above)
Includes fruit flavorings. Examples of flavoring substances include benzaldehyde, maltol and vanillin.
The law prohibits the marketing of cigarettes with a “distinctive flavor”. “Distinctive flavor” is defined as “a prominent fragrance or taste other than tobacco that is the result of an additive or combination of additives, including fruits, alcohol, sweets, and vanilla. Therefore, the use of other flavoring (not covered above) is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it regulates ingredients used to increase palatability such as other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake.
The law furthers FCTC Arts. 5.2 and 9 in that it regulates ingredients in cigarettes that facilitate nicotine uptake, such as ammonia.
Ingredients which may create an impression of health benefits
Examples include: vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, fruit and vegetables (and products resulting from their processing such as fruit juices), amino acids, such as cysteine and tryptophan, and essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6.
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with vitamins or other additives that give the impression of a health benefit or a limited health risk.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that the law prohibits the use of ingredients in cigarettes that may create an impression of health benefits.
Ingredients associated with energy and vitality
Examples include: caffeine, guarana, taurine and glucuronolactone.
The prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with caffeine, taurine, or other additives and stimulant compounds.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that the law prohibits the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality.
Additives that have coloring properties for emissions
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with additives that have coloring properties for emissions.
The law aligns with FCTC Article 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines.
Additives that have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties in non-combusted form
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with additives that have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties in non-combusted form.
Additives in volumes that upon consumption significantly or measurably increase the toxic or addictive effect or carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties
The law prohibits the marketing of tobacco products, including cigarettes, with additives in volumes that upon consumption significantly or measurably increase the toxic or addictive effect or carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties.
