Last updated: February 19, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection
National Public Health Agency
The law regulates the contents and ingredients of cigarettes.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection
National Public Health Agency
The law regulates cigarette emissions as follows: a) 10 mg tar per cigarette; b) 1 mg nicotine per cigarette; c) 10 mg 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 cigarettes with a "characteristic flavour." Accordingly, sugars and sweeteners that produce a characteristic flavor are prohibited and the regulatory status code "Banned" is given.
The law notes that it does not prohibit "the use of an additive which is essential for the manufacture of a tobacco product (for example, sugar when it is used to replace sugar that is lost during the curing process), provided that the additive does not result in a product with a characterising flavour."
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 cigarettes with a "characteristic flavor." Accordingly, menthol, mint and spearmint that produce a characteristic flavor are prohibited.
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 cigarettes with a "characteristic flavor." Accordingly, spices and herbs (excluding mint) that produce a characteristic flavor are prohibited.
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 cigarettes with a "characteristic flavor." Accordingly, other flavorings (not covered above) that produce a characteristic flavor are prohibited. In addition, Annex No. 1 of Decision No. 1065 lists ingredients that are prohibited from being used in the manufacture of tobacco products, several of which are flavorings (e.g., vanilla root).
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 cigarettes containing additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake.
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 cigarettes containing vitamins or other additives that create the impression that a tobacco product has a health benefit or presents reduced health risks.
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 prohibits cigarettes containing caffeine, taurine or other additives and stimulant compounds that are associated with energy and vitality.
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 are associated with energy and vitality.
Additives that have coloring properties for emissions
The law prohibits cigarettes containing additives that have coloring effects on emissions.
Additives that have CMR properties in unburnt form
The law prohibits cigarettes containing additives that have CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction) properties in unburnt form.
Additives in quantities that increase, to a significant or measurable degree, the toxic or addictive effect or CMR properties of the product when it is consumed
The law prohibits cigarettes containing additives in quantities that increase, to a significant or measurable degree, the toxic or addictive effect or CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction) properties of the product when it is consumed.
Agaric acid, Birch tar oil, Tansy, Mexilot, Juniper tar oil, Camphor, Camphor oil, Camphor wood, Bitter almond oil, Stalks of Bittersweet, Areca palm, Coumarin, Vanilla root, Woodruff, Quillaia bark, Quassia (bitter wood), Rue, Indian Tobacco, Safrole, Sassafras oil, Sassafras leaves, Sassafras wood, Sassafras bark, Polypody root, Mint of Pennyroyal, Tonka beans, Thujone
The following ingredients are prohibited from being used in the manufacture of tobacco products: Agaric acid, Birch tar oil, Tansy, Mexilot, Juniper tar oil, Camphor, Camphor oil, Camphor wood, Bitter almond oil, Stalks of Bittersweet, Areca palm, Coumarin, Vanilla root, Woodruff, Quillaia bark, Quassia (bitter wood), Rue, Indian Tobacco, Safrole, Sassafras oil, Sassafras leaves, Sassafras wood, Sassafras bark, Polypody root, Mint of Pennyroyal, Tonka beans, and Thujone.
