Last updated: February 3, 2020
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products. However, the Ministry has not yet issued regulations regarding the prohibition or restriction of ingredients in tobacco products.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health
Law 26687 sets the maximum emissions levels per cigarette or small cigar as follows: 10 mg of tar, 1 mg of nicotine, and 10 mg of carbon monoxide.
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.
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of sugars and sweeteners in cigarettes is allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law or regulations should prohibit or restrict the use of ingredients used to increase palatability such as sugars and sweeteners in cigarettes.
Menthol, mint or spearmint (including analogues and derivatives)
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use menthol, mint, or spearmint in cigarettes is allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law or regulations should prohibit or restrict the use of ingredients used to increase palatability such as menthol, mint, or spearmint in cigarettes.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of spices and herbs (excluding mint) in cigarettes is allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law or regulations should prohibit or restrict the use of 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.
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes is allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law or regulations should prohibit or restrict the use of ingredients used to increase palatability such as other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of ingredients in cigarettes that facilitate nicotine uptake is allowed.
To further FCTC Arts. 5.2 and 9, the law or regulations should regulate ingredients 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.
Decree 602 of 2013 prohibits manufacturers and importers from presenting information to the public "concerning ingredients that are supposedly beneficial to health, or flavorings or aromatic scents or statements that refer to such ingredients and have the possible effect of making consumption of the product more attractive to children and adolescents, or give the idea that it is less hazardous to health." However, the law does not specifically state that these types of ingredients are prohibited in the tobacco product. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law should prohibit 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.
Law 26687 authorizes the Ministry of Health to ban the use of specific ingredients in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality is allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law should prohibit the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality.
