Last updated: January 23, 2023
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Secretariat of Health
The General Law on Tobacco Control delegates authority to the Secretariat of Health to implement various aspects of the law, including determining provisions on "information that manufacturers must provide to corresponding authorities and the public regarding tobacco products and their emissions." This is interpreted as delegating authority to regulate cigarette contents and/or ingredients. However, the Secretariat has not issued these regulations.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Secretariat of Health
The General Law on Tobacco Control delegates authority to the Secretariat of Health to implement various aspects of the law, including determining provisions on "information that manufacturers must provide to corresponding authorities and the public regarding tobacco products and their emissions." However, the Secretariat has not issued regulations on 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 does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of sugars and sweeteners in tobacco products is 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 tobacco products.
Menthol, mint or spearmint (including analogues and derivatives)
The law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of menthol, mint and spearmint in tobacco products is 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 menthol, mint, or spearmint in tobacco products.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
The law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of spices and herbs in tobacco products is 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 spices and herbs (excluding mint) in tobacco products.
Other flavorings (not covered above)
Includes fruit flavorings. Examples of flavoring substances include benzaldehyde, maltol and vanillin.
The law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of flavorings in tobacco products is 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 flavorings in tobacco products.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake is allowed.
To align with 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 law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of ingredients that may create an impression of health benefits is 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 that may create an impression of health benefits in tobacco products.
Ingredients associated with energy and vitality
Examples include: caffeine, guarana, taurine and glucuronolactone.
The law does not regulate, nor grant any authority to regulate, contents and ingredients. Therefore the use of ingredients associated with energy and vitality is 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 associated with energy and vitality in tobacco products.
