Last updated: December 9, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Uncertain
The Eurasian Economic Council Committee (EEC) Technical Regulations for Tobacco Products contain an appendix with a list of ingredients that are prohibited in tobacco products manufactured or sold in the EEC.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Vice Minister of Health
The law prohibits the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of tobacco products that exceed the maximum permitted levels of nicotine and tar “as defined by the government agency overseeing public health and epidemiological well-being.” Under the Eurasian Economic Council Committee Technical Regulations for Tobacco Products and Ministry of Health Order No. 277/2020, emissions may not exceed the following levels: 10 mg of tar per cigarette and 1.0 mg of nicotine per cigarette. The Technical Regulations also limit the level of carbon monoxide to 10 mg 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 EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Sugars and sweeteners, such as glucose, molasses, honey and sorbitol, are not specified on this list; therefore, they are allowed.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law 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)
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. "Mint herb (mint marsh) (Herba Pulegii)" is one of the specified substances. However, menthol and spearmint are not among the specified substances. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Some Restrictions" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law should prohibit or restrict the use of all ingredients used to increase palatability, including menthol and spearmint, in cigarettes.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Among the prohibited specified substances are some spices and herbs, including mint herb, tansy herb, rue herb and clover. However, other spices and herbs, including cinnamon and ginger, are not specified as banned substances. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Some Restrictions" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law should prohibit or restrict the use of all ingredients used to increase palatability, including cinnamon and ginger, in cigarettes.
Other flavorings (not covered above)
Includes fruit flavorings. Examples of flavoring substances include benzaldehyde, maltol and vanillin.
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Among the prohibited specified substances are the following flavorings: woody stem of bitter-sweet nightshade (Stipites Dulcamarae); wood of the camphor tree ((Lignum Camphorae); rhizome of the common centipede (Rhizoma Poiypodii); Mint herb (mint marsh) (Herba Pulegii); Kvass wood (Lignum Quassiae); Soap tree bark (Cortex Quillaja);Tansy herb (Herba Tanaceti); Rue herb (Herba Rutae); Stems, leaves and bark of sassafrass (Stipes, Folium, Cortex Sassafratis); Medicinal clover (Millilotus officinalis);Tonka beans (Semen Toncae); Liatris odorous (Liatris odoratissima); Woodruff (Asperula odorata)." However, other types of flavorings, including benzaldehyde, maltol, and vanillin, are not specified as banned flavoring substances. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Some Restrictions" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines, the law should prohibit or restrict the use of all ingredients used to increase palatability such as other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake, including ammonia, are not specified on this list; therefore, they are allowed.
To further FCTC Arts. 5.2 and 9, the law 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 EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Ingredients that may create an impression of health benefits are not specified on this list; therefore, they are 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 may create an impression of health benefits.
Ingredients associated with energy and vitality
Examples include: caffeine, guarana, taurine and glucuronolactone.
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products. Ingredients associated with energy and vitality are not specified on this list; therefore, they are 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.
Laricic acid, Birch tar oil, Bitter almond oil with free or bound hydrocyanic acid, Sassafras oil, Juniper tar oil, Camphor oil, Camphor, Coumarin, Safflower, and Thujone.
The EEC Technical Regulations ban the use of specified substances in the manufacture of tobacco products, including the following: "Laricic acid (Acidumagaricinicum); Birch tar oil (Oleum Betulaeempyreumaticum); Bitter almond oil (Oleum Amygdalarumamarum) with free or bound hydrocyanic acid; Sassafras oil (Oleum Sassfratis); Juniper tar oil (Oleum Juniperiempyreumaticum); Camphor oil (Oleum camphoratum); Camphor; Coumarin; Safflower; Thujone."
