Last updated: January 25, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
The law regulates contents and ingredients of cigarettes, including prohibiting characterizing flavors and other additives such as vitamins and caffeine.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
The law establishes maximum emissions levels per cigarette at 10 milligrams tar, 1 milligram nicotine, and 10 milligrams carbon monoxide. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has the authority to determine different emission and maximum emission levels for cigarettes and emission and maximum emission levels for tobacco products other than cigarettes.
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 ”characterizing flavor.” The law’s definition of “characterizing flavor” includes, but is not limited to, “sugar.” Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
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 “characterizing flavor.” The law’s definition of “characterizing flavor” includes menthol. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
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 “characterizing flavor.” The law’s definition of “characterizing flavor” includes spices and herbs. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
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 “characterizing flavor.” The law’s definition of “characterizing flavor” includes fruits and vanilla. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
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 use of additives that make inhalation or nicotine delivery easier for smoking tobacco.
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 use of vitamins and other additives that give the impression that a tobacco product is beneficial to health or has a lower health risk.
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 use of additives associated with energy and vitality, including caffeine or taurine.
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 use of additives with coloring properties for emissions.
Additives with CMR properties in unburnt form
The law prohibits the use of additives with carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic properties in unburnt form.
Flavor additives with any technical properties that provide a change in the smell, taste, or smoke density
The law prohibits the use of flavor additives with any technical properties that provide a change in the smell, taste, or smoke density.
Flavorings in any components (filters, papers, etc.)
The law prohibits the use of flavorings in any components, including filters, papers, packages, and capsules.
Additives other than preservatives and moisturizers in crushed rolling tobacco
The law prohibits the use of additives other than preservatives and moisturizers in crushed rolling tobacco.
