Last updated: March 7, 2025
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Standards Organization of Nigeria
The Tobacco Control Act provides that no person shall manufacture, distribute, or sell a tobacco product that does not comply with the approved standards. Under NIS 463:2018, characterizing flavors in cigarettes are prohibited.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Standards Organization of Nigeria
The Tobacco Control Act provides that no person shall manufacture, distribute, or sell a tobacco product that does not comply with the approved standards. NIS 463:2018 establishes maximum limits for nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar contents of cigarettes. These limits are as follows:
- 1 mg nicotine/cigarette
- 10 mg carbon monoxide/cigarette
- 10 mg tar/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 characterizing flavors in cigarettes. Accordingly, sugars and sweeteners that produce a characterizing flavor are prohibited and the regulatory status "Banned" is given.
The law notes: "These do not include use of additives which are essential to the manufacture of tobacco products e.g. sugar to replace sugar that is lost during the curing process if they do not result in a product 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 characterizing flavors in cigarettes. The definition of "characterising flavour" specifically includes menthol, spices, and herbs. 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
in cigarettes to increase palatability such as menthol, mint, and spearmint.
Spices and herbs (excluding mint)
Examples include: cinnamon and ginger.
The law prohibits characterizing flavors in cigarettes. The definition of "characterising flavour" specifically includes spices, and herbs.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 9 and the FCTC Arts. 9 & 10 Partial Guidelines in that it regulates ingredients used in cigarettes to increase palatability such as spices and herbs.
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 does not regulate ingredients in cigarettes that facilitate nicotine uptake.
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 in cigarettes that may create an impression of health benefits.
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 in cigarettes that are associated with energy and vitality.
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.
