MENTHOL BAN FAQ’s
Discover the facts about the menthol banexpand_more
Menthol cigarettes including cigarettes which contain capsules with a mint flavour have been banned in the UK this year from 20 May 2020, as new legislation has come into force.
Why are menthol cigarettes being banned?expand_more
The menthol ban stems from the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive. The menthol ban was incorporated into English law through the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016 prohibiting cigarettes with a characterising flavour. A “characterising flavour” means a smell or taste other than tobacco which is clearly noticeable before or during consumption and results from an additive or combination of additives, including menthol and others.
What should you know about the menthol cigarette ban?expand_more
The menthol ban makes it an offence to manufacture or sell a cigarette or hand rolling tobacco with:
a filter, paper, package, capsule or other component containing flavouringsa filter, paper or capsule containing tobacco or nicotine ora technical feature allowing the consumer to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity of the product.
This new law, which came into play on 20 May 2020, does not ban e-cigarettes or oral nicotine pouches.
Are menthol cigarettes being banned everywhere?expand_more
As part of this specific law which is derived from the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive, menthol and other flavoured cigarettes will be banned through the European Union, including the UK. The ban on menthol cigarettes is unaffected by the UK leaving the European Union. Elsewhere in the world, other bans are being considered and coming into effect. A ban on menthol and other flavoured cigarettes was reinstated in Brazil in 2018 and the United States is exploring proposals to ban menthol cigarettes.
