Last updated: December 22, 2021
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health
The law regulates the contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes, including prohibiting characterizing flavors.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health
The Public Health Code authorizes the Minister of Health to set emission limits. By Ministry of Health administrative order, cigarette emissions may not exceed:
a) 10 milligrams of tar per cigarette;
b) 1 milligram of nicotine per cigarette; and
c) 10 milligrams of 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 sale of flavored cigarettes “having a scent or taste that is clearly identifiable before or during consumption, other than that of tobacco.” Therefore, use of sugars and sweeteners that increase palatability is prohibited and the regulatory status code “Banned” 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 sale of flavored cigarettes “having a scent or taste that is clearly identifiable before or during consumption, other than that of tobacco.” 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 prohibits the sale of flavored cigarettes “having a scent or taste that is clearly identifiable before or during consumption, other than that of tobacco.” 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 prohibits the sale of flavored cigarettes “having a scent or taste that is clearly identifiable before or during consumption, other than that of tobacco.” Therefore, the use of flavorings 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 other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives that facilitate inhalation or the absorption of nicotine.
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 sale of cigarettes containing vitamins or other additives fostering the impression that a tobacco product has beneficial health effects, or that the risks it poses to health have been reduced.
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.
Additives that have coloring properties for emissions
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives that confer coloring properties on smoke emissions.
Additives that have CMR properties in unburnt form
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives that, without combustion, have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic properties for human reproduction.
Additives in quantities that significantly or measurably increase their toxic effects, or the addictive effect that they give rise to, when they are consumed
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives in quantities that significantly or measurably increase their toxic effects, or the addictive effect that they give rise to, when they are consumed.
Tobacco, nicotine, or flavoring agents in filters, paper, capsules, packaging, or any other component
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes whose filters, paper, capsules, packaging, or any other component contain tobacco, nicotine, or flavoring agents.
Technical features that make it possible to modify the scent or taste or the intensity of combustion/smoke
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes with technical features that make it possible to modify the scent or taste or the intensity of the combustion/smoke.
