Last updated: January 24, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health; Central Authority for Standardization and Quality Control
The Anti-Smoking Act authorizes and mandates the Ministry of Health to develop specifications for the manufacture and importation of tobacco products.
Although the Ministry of Health has not issued such regulations, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control regulates certain ingredients in its Standard Specification No. 546. In particular, the use of certain ingredients is permitted as long as these do not produce “substances harmful to public health.” There are also maximum permissible percentages of ash and nitrogen based on dry weight.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Central Authority for Standardization and Quality Control
Under Standard Specification No. 546, cigarettes must not have a nicotine content greater than 0.8 mg, a tar content greater than 12 mg, or a carbon monoxide content greater than 12 mg.
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 explicitly permits the use of sweeteners provided that they do not produce substances harmful to public health when burned in a cigarette.
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 explicitly permits the use of natural and artificial flavoring agents provided that they do not produce substances harmful to public health when burned in a cigarette.
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 explicitly permits the use of natural and artificial flavoring agents provided that they do not produce substances harmful to public health when burned in a cigarette.
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 explicitly permits the use of natural and artificial flavoring agents provided that they do not produce substances harmful to public health when burned in a cigarette.
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 Anti-Smoking Act authorizes and mandates the Ministry of Health to develop specifications for the manufacture and importation of tobacco products. However, the Ministry has not yet issued such regulations with respect to ingredients in cigarettes that facilitate nicotine uptake, and Standard Specification No. 546 does not address such ingredients. Therefore, these ingredients remain unregulated.
To further FCTC Arts. 5.2 and 9, the law should regulate 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 Anti-Smoking Act authorizes and mandates the Ministry of Health to develop specifications for the manufacture and importation of tobacco products. However, the Ministry has not yet issued such regulations with respect to ingredients that may create an impression of health benefits, and Standard Specification No. 546 does not address such ingredients. Therefore, these ingredients remain unregulated.
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.
The Anti-Smoking Act authorizes and mandates the Ministry of Health to develop specifications for the manufacture and importation of tobacco products. However, the Ministry has not yet issued such regulations with respect to ingredients associated with energy and vitality, and Standard Specification No. 546 does not address such ingredients. Therefore, these ingredients remain unregulated.
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.
Humectant substances like propylene glycol
The law explicitly permits the use of humectant substances like propylene glycol provided that they do not produce substances harmful to public health when burned in a cigarette.
