Last updated: December 5, 2023
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Public Health Agency
The law regulates the sale of cigarettes with certain additives, including characterizing flavors.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Public Health Agency
The maximum emission limits for cigarettes are as follows: 10 mg tar per cigarette, 1 mg nicotine per cigarette, and 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 the sale of cigarettes “with a characterizing flavor,” which is defined as a clearly noticeable odor or taste of anything other than tobacco. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law notes that it allows additives that are necessary in the manufacture of cigarettes provided that the additives do not lead to a cigarette with a characterizing flavor.
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 the sale of cigarettes “with a characterizing flavor,” which is defined as a clearly noticeable odor or taste of anything other than tobacco, which may include but is not limited to fruits, spices, herbs, alcohol, caramel, menthol, or vanilla and which is noticeable before or during the use of a tobacco. Therefore, the use of menthol, mint, or spearmint in cigarettes is 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 the sale of cigarettes “with a characterizing flavor,” which is defined as a clearly noticeable odor or taste of anything other than tobacco, which may include but is not limited to fruits, spices, herbs, alcohol, caramel, menthol, or vanilla and which is noticeable before or during the use of a tobacco. Therefore, the use of spices and herbs in cigarettes is 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 the sale of cigarettes “with a characterizing flavor,” which is defined as a clearly noticeable order or taste of anything other than tobacco, which may include but is not limited to fruits, spices, herbs, alcohol, caramel, menthol, or vanilla and which is noticeable before or during the use of a tobacco. Therefore, the use of other flavorings (not covered above) is 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 other flavorings (not covered above) in cigarettes.
Ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake
Examples include: ammonia.
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives that facilitate inhalation or the absorption of nicotine.
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 the sale of cigarettes containing vitamins or other additives fostering the impression that a tobacco product has beneficial health effects or that the risks it poses to health have been reduced.
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 the sale of cigarettes containing caffeine, taurine, or other additives and stimulants 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 the sale of cigarettes containing additives that color emissions.
Additives that have CMR properties in unburnt form
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes containing additives that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction in unburnt form.
Filters, papers, or capsules containing tobacco or nicotine
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes that contain tobacco or nicotine in the filters, papers, or capsules.
Technical features allowing modification of the smell, taste, or smoke intensity
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes whose technical features allow consumers to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity of the product.
