Last updated: March 7, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority
Proclamation No. 1112/2019 provides authority to regulate the content of tobacco products. In addition, it prohibits the import, wholesale, distribution, and sale of tobacco products with a characterizing flavor and those containing contents and ingredients that create an impression of health benefits or association with energy and vitality, among others.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ethiopian Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority
The law grants the authority to regulate cigarette emissions. However, the Authority has not yet issued limits for emissions.
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 states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . has a characterizing flavor.” Accordingly, sugars and sweeteners that produce a characterizing flavor are 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 sugars and sweeteners in cigarettes.
Menthol, mint or spearmint (including analogues and derivatives)
The law states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . has a characterizing flavor.” Therefore, the use of menthol, mint or spearmint in cigarettes is banned.
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 states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . has a characterizing flavor.” Therefore, the use of spices and herbs in cigarettes is banned.
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 states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . has a characterizing flavor.” Therefore, the use of other flavorings (in addition to those listed above) is banned.
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 (in addition to those listed above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
While the law bans flavorings and some other ingredients, it does not regulate ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake.
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.
The law states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . contains one or more additives with properties associated with or likely to be associated with ... a health benefit [or] reduced health risk.” Such additives include, but are not limited to, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
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 law states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . contains one or more additives with properties associated with or likely to be associated with energy or vitality.” Such additives include, but are not limited to, caffeine, taurine, and other stimulants.
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.
Colorants to change the color of tobacco smoke
The law states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . contains a colorant to change the color of tobacco smoke.”
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it prohibits ingredients that have coloring properties in cigarettes.
Flavorings in any component, packaging, wrapping, or any technical feature allowing modification of the smell or taste
The law states that “no person shall manufacture, import, wholesale, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any tobacco product that . . . contains a flavoring in any component, or the packaging, wrapping or any technical feature of the product allowing modification of the smell or taste of the product.”
