Last updated: January 19, 2024
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health
The law prohibits the sale or export of any tobacco product that contains a harmful constituent prohibited by regulations made under the law; or contains harmful constituents in excess of the limits prescribed by regulations made under the law, as determined in accordance with any tests so prescribed. The regulations issued under the law state that tobacco products may smell only of manufactured tobacco or menthol. Further, the regulations prohibit the sale of cigarettes containing any synthetic or naturally occurring chemical or ingredient similar to nicotine or synthetic nicotine.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health
The law prohibits the sale or export of any tobacco product that generates in its smoke a harmful constituent prohibited by regulations made under the law; or generates in its smoke, harmful constituents in excess of the limits prescribed by regulations made under the law, as determined in accordance with any tests so prescribed.
However, no such regulations on emissions have been issued to date.
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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents contained in tobacco products. The regulations state that tobacco products may smell only of manufactured tobacco or menthol. Therefore, the use of sugars and sweeteners in cigarettes is allowed so long as it does not produce a prohibited smell.
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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents contained in tobacco products. The regulations state that tobacco products may smell only of manufactured tobacco or menthol. Therefore, the use of menthol, mint, or spearmint in cigarettes is allowed so long as it does not produce a prohibited smell.
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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents contained in tobacco products. The regulations state that tobacco products may smell only of manufactured tobacco or menthol. Therefore, the use of spices and herbs (excluding mint) in cigarettes is allowed so long as it does not produce a prohibited smell.
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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents contained in tobacco products. The regulations state that tobacco products may smell only of manufactured tobacco or menthol. Therefore, the use of other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes is allowed so long as it does not produce a prohibited smell.
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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents, which could include ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake, contained in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of ingredients in cigarettes that facilitate nicotine uptake is 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 law authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents, which could include ingredients that may create an impression of health benefits, contained in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of ingredients in cigarettes 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 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 authorizes the Ministry of Health to issue regulations to prohibit or establish limits for harmful constituents, which could include ingredients associated with energy and vitality, contained in tobacco products; however, such regulations have not yet been issued. Therefore, the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are 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 the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality.
Chemical or ingredient similar to nicotine
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing any synthetic or naturally occurring chemical or ingredient similar to nicotine or synthetic nicotine.
