Last updated: March 12, 2021
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Public Health
Law No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of certain ingredients in tobacco products.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Public Health, Committee for Tobacco Control
Law No. 2018-020 authorizes the Minister of Public Health to set maximum content levels for nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide, and other emissions of tobacco products. However, the Minister has not yet issued these regulations. Therefore, emissions remain unregulated.
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 No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of "ingredients that can improve the taste of tobacco products." This is interpreted as prohibiting the use of sugars and sweeteners because these ingredients are used to improve the taste of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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)
Law No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of "ingredients that can improve the taste of tobacco products." This is interpreted as prohibiting the use of menthol, mint or spearmint because these ingredients are used to improve the taste of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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.
Law No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of "ingredients that can improve the taste of tobacco products." This is interpreted as prohibiting the use of spices and herbs because these ingredients are used to improve the taste of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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 in cigarettes.
Other flavorings (not covered above)
Includes fruit flavorings. Examples of flavoring substances include benzaldehyde, maltol and vanillin.
Law No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of "ingredients that can improve the taste of tobacco products." This is interpreted as prohibiting the use of flavorings because these ingredients are used to improve the taste of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
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 cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The law does not address the use of ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing these ingredients.
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.
Law No. 2018-020 prohibits the use of ingredients that create the impression that the product has beneficial health effects.
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 does not address the use of ingredients associated with energy and vitality. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing these ingredients.
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.
