Last updated: December 3, 2021
Key Terms
Ingredient
“Ingredient” means tobacco, additives, as well as any substance or element present in the finished product, including paper, filter, inks, capsules and adhesive rubber.
The definition of "ingredient" is significant because the law authorizes autonomous regional governments and cities to regulate the ingredients of tobacco products.
Includes tobacco, components (e.g. paper, filter), including materials used to manufacture those components, additives, processing aids, residual substances found in tobacco (following storage and processing), and substances that migrate from the packaging material into the product (contaminants are not part of the ingredients). (FCTC Art. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines)
Additive
"Additive" means a substance, other than tobacco leaves, added to a tobacco product, its packaging unit, or any external packaging.
The definition of "additive" is significant because the law requires manufacturers and importers to report to the General Directorate of Public Health on the quantity, quality, toxicity, aroma, emissions, and any other relevant characteristics of the additives contained in tobacco products.
Characterizing flavor
"Characterizing flavor" means a distinctly noticeable smell or taste other than that of tobacco, due to an additive or a combination of additives, including fruits, spices, herbs, alcohol, caramel, menthol or vanilla, among others, that is noticeable before or during the consumption of the tobacco product.
The definition of "characterizing flavor" is significant because the law does not allow cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco marketed in Spain to have a characterizing flavor.
Flavoring
"Flavoring" means an additive that confers odor and/or flavor.
The definition of "flavoring" is significant because the law does not allow cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco marketed in Spain to contain flavorings in its components, such as filters, cigarette papers, containers, capsules, or any other technical characteristic that allows modifying the smell or taste of tobacco products, or intensifying the smoke.
Emissions
“Emissions” means all of the substances released when given to the tobacco product, or related to it, the use for which it is intended, such as, for example, substances present in smoke.
The definition of “emissions” is significant because the law authorizes autonomous regional governments and cities to regulate the emissions of tobacco products.
Addictive Power
"Addictive power" means the pharmacological potential of a substance to cause addiction, a state that affects an individual's ability to control behavior, usually by offering a reward or relief from the symptoms of withdrawal, or both.
The definition of "addictive power" is significant because the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products with additives that increase the addictive properties of such products.
Toxicity
"Toxicity" means the degree to which a substance can cause harmful effects in the human body, including long-term effects, generally resulting from continuous use or exposure.
The definition of "toxicity" is significant because the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products with additives that increase the toxicity of such products.