Last updated: January 7, 2022
Regulated Contents in Cigarettes
Are contents and/or ingredients of cigarettes regulated?
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
The law regulates contents and ingredients of cigarettes, including prohibiting characterizing flavors and other specified ingredients.
Are cigarette emissions regulated?
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
The maximum emission limits for cigarettes are as follows: for tar, 10 milligrams per cigarette; for nicotine, 1.0 milligram per cigarette; for carbon monoxide, 10 milligrams 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 the sale of cigarettes with a characterizing flavor or containing flavorings that change the smell or taste of tobacco smoke. This is interpreted as prohibiting the use of sugars and sweeteners in a manner that makes cigarette smoke more palatable. 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 the sale of cigarettes with a characterizing flavor or containing flavorings that change the smell or taste of tobacco smoke. This is interpreted to include menthol, mint, and spearmint. In addition, the law prohibits the use of specified additives in cigarettes contained in Appendix 1 of the Tobacco and Related Products Ordinance 2016, which includes menthol.
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 sale of cigarettes with a characterizing flavor or containing flavorings that change the smell or taste of tobacco smoke. This is interpreted to include spices and herbs.
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 sale of cigarettes with a characterizing flavor or containing flavorings that change the smell or taste of tobacco smoke. This is interpreted to include other flavorings (not covered above).
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 specified additives that facilitate inhalation and nicotine absorption. This list is contained in Appendix 1 of the Tobacco and Related Products Ordinance 2016.
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 in cigarettes of vitamins or other specified additives that may give the impression that a tobacco product has health benefits.
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 in cigarettes of caffeine, taurine, and other specified additives and stimulating mixtures 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 the use in cigarettes of additives that have coloring properties for emissions.
Specified additives that have CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive) properties in burned or unburned form
The law prohibits the use in cigarettes of specified additives that have CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive) properties in burned or unburned form.
Filters, papers, and capsules containing tobacco or nicotine
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes whose filters, papers, or capsules contain tobacco or nicotine.
Technical features that make it possible to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity
The law prohibits the sale of cigarettes with technical features that make it possible to modify the scent or taste or the intensity of the smoke.
