Last updated: August 28, 2024
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Department of Health; Local Weights and Measures Authorities
The law prohibits the manufacture and sale of: 1) tobacco products that contain certain additives (Sec. 16) and 2) cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco ("hand rolling tobacco") that contain a characterizing flavor (Sec. 15).
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Department of Health
The law prohibits the manufacture, sale, and export of cigarettes with emissions levels greater than: 1) 10 mg of tar per cigarette, 2) 1 mg of nicotine per cigarette, or 3) 10 mg of 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 "characterising flavour." Accordingly, sugars and sweeteners that produce a characterizing flavor are prohibited and the regulatory status "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 "characterising flavour." Accordingly, menthol, mint and spearmint that produce a characterizing 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 "characterising flavour." Accordingly, spices and herbs (excluding mint) that produce a characterizing 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 "characterising flavour." Accordingly, other flavorings (not covered above) that produce a characterizing 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 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.
