Last updated: August 7, 2024
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Ministry of Health
Law No. 12-2012 authorizes the Minister of Health to regulate the contents and emissions of tobacco products. The Minister has exercised this authority by issuing Order No. 2853, which prohibits cigarettes with certain additives.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Ministry of Health
Law No. 12-2012 authorizes the Minister of Health to regulate the contents and emissions of tobacco products. However, the Minister has not yet issued regulations addressing emissions.
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. Accordingly, sugars and sweeteners that produce a characterizing flavor are prohibited. The law further states that it permits "additives necessary for the manufacture of tobacco, e.g., sugar to replace sugar lost during the curing process ... since these additives do not produce characterizing flavors and do not significantly or measurably increase the toxicity or addictiveness of the products."
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. 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, and spearmint in cigarettes.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
The law prohibits cigarettes with a characterizing flavor. Accordingly, spices and herbs 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 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. Accordingly, other flavorings 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 does not regulate the use of 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 or regulations 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 prohibits cigarettes with ingredients which may create an impression of health benefits or that the health risks are reduced.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it 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 with ingredients associated with energy and vitality such as caffeine and taurine.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it prohibits the use of ingredients in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality.
Flavor capsules
The law prohibits flavor capsules in cigarettes.
Additives that have coloring properties for emissions
The law prohibits additives that have coloring properties for emissions.
Characterizing flavors in components (filters, paper, packaging, capsules)
The law prohibits characterizing flavors in components, such as papers, filters, or packaging.
Technical features allowing modification of the taste or smell
The law prohibits technical features allowing modification of the taste or smell of tobacco products.
