Last updated: January 6, 2026
Regulated Contents and Emissions in Cigarettes
Does the law regulate cigarette contents and/or ingredients?
The office responsible for health inspection and tax bodies
The law directly regulates the contents and additives in tobacco products.
Does the law establish maximum emissions limits for cigarettes?
The office responsible for health inspection and tax bodies
The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products that contain more than:
- 10 mg of tar per cigarette;
- 1 mg of nicotine per cigarette;
- 10 mg of carbon monoxide.
Status of Regulated Ingredients in 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 the placing on the market of tobacco products with characteristic flavors, including sugars and sweeteners. The use of sugars to replace those lost during tobacco processing is allowed, provided that it does not impart a characteristic taste and does not result in a significant or measurable increase in the levels of addiction, toxicity, or the carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxic properties of the tobacco product.
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 placing on the market of tobacco products with characteristic flavors. Therefore, the use of menthol, mint or spearmint in tobacco products 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 placing on the market of tobacco products with characteristic flavors. Therefore, the use of spices and herbs in tobacco products 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 placing on the market of tobacco products with characteristic flavors. 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 does not regulate ingredients that facilitate nicotine uptake. 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 does not regulate ingredients that may create an impression of health benefits. 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 does not regulate ingredients associated with energy and vitality. 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.
Ingredients that increase addiction, toxicity or CMR properties
The law prohibits the use of ingredients that result in a significant or measurable increase in the levels of addiction, toxicity, or the carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxic properties of the tobacco product.
