Key extant product regulatory strategies
| Type of regulation | Countries implementing regulations | Example of regulation | Reference |
| Regulation of harm and toxicity | |||
| Emission limits | For example, European Union countries, Australia, Singapore | European Union: since January 2004, the yield of cigarettes released for free circulation, marketed or manufactured in the Member States shall not be greater than 10 mg per cigarette for tar, 1 mg per cigarette for nicotine, 10 mg per cigarette for carbon monoxide under the ISO smoking regimen. These tar limits represent further reductions of 15 mg per cigarette implemented in 1992 and 12 mg per cigarette implemented in 1997. | Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001. http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/public_health/health_determinants_lifestyle/c11567_en.htm (accessed 23 April 2011). |
| Reduced ignition propensity | For example Canada, US States, Australia | Australia: 23 March 2010: the date from which the mandatory standard applied to all cigarettes manufactured in, or imported into, Australia; 23 September 2010: the date from which the mandatory standard applied to all cigarettes supplied in Australia, no matter when or where they were manufactured or when they were imported into Australia | Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Product Safety Australia: Mandatory standard–Reduced fire risk cigarettes. http://www.productsafety.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/974720/fromItemId/974709 (accessed 23 April 2011). |
| Product bans | For example Australia, New Zealand, European Union | New Zealand: chewing tobacco imported for sale that is labelled or otherwise described as suitable for chewing or for any other oral use (other than smoking) | Smoke Free Environments Act 1990. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0108/latest/DLM223191.html (accessed 23 April 2011). |
| Product toxin controls | For example Sweden | Sweden: the tobacco company, Swedish Match, has developed limits for certain toxins in tobacco products, and this is referred to as the Gothiatek Standards | Gothiatek standards. http://www.swedishmatch.com/en/Snus-and-health/Our-quality-standard-GothiaTek/GothiaTek-standards/ (accessed 23 April 2011). |
| Regulation of attractiveness | |||
| Restrictions/bans on additives and ingredients | For example Canada, US, Australia, Thailand, France, Singapore, Lithuania | Canada: as of July 2010, Canada prohibited additives with flavouring properties or that enhance flavour, with the exception of menthol. Other additives, including caffeine and vitamins, are also prohibited. | Department of Justice, Canada. Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act. http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/2009_27.pdf |
| Regulation of addictiveness | No countries have yet implemented laws in this area | ||
| Testing and disclosure | For example, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, USA, Venezuela, New Zealand | Canada: disclosure of 26 chemical constituents in whole tobacco, tobacco weight, pH and 41 smoke emissions using the ISO and Health Canada smoking regimens for every brand sold in Canada with more than 1% market share. Manufacturers and importers must also conduct and report on three toxicity tests. Finally, every manufacturer of a consumer tobacco product shall report annually on each research activity that was undertaken, continued or completed during a year by or on behalf of the manufacturer in respect of that consumer tobacco product, including, but not limited to, research regarding: (a) toxicity, (b) health effects, (c) ingredients, (d) taste and flavour, (e) modification, (f) marketing and (g) the manner in which it is used by consumers. | Health Canada. Tobacco reporting regulations: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/legislation/reg/indust/index-eng.php (accessed 18 April 2010). |
ISO, International Organization for Standardization.