The Tar, Nicotine and Carbon monoxide ceilings (or TNCO ceilings) are the average upper limits on total aerosol residue, nicotine and carbon monoxide contents of a cigarette, as measured on a smoking machine and according to a given set of ISO standards.ISO methods 3308 (general conditions), 4387 (tar), 8454 (CO) and 10315 (nicotine). Because these refer to machine-generated yields rather than the average smoker's intake, these values have often been decried as misleading.WHO Scientific Advisory Committee on Tobacco Product Regulation. Recommendation on Health Claims Derived from ISO/FTC Method to Measure Cigarette Yield. 2002
A growing number of countries are nevertheless using such values as upper yield limitations for the cigarettes marketed under their jurisdiction.
Africa CountryTarNicotineCOAs of151.5-2007 07152-2005 01120.8- 121.2-2006 06 (All values in mg/cigarette and must be reported on packs.)
Most countries on the continent do not impose maximum values for either tar, nicotine or CO, but Burkina Faso, Benin, Cape Verde, Morocco nevertheless demand that yield values be reported on pack.
Americas CountryTarNicotineCOAs of141.1-1995 11101102001 12 (All values in mg/cigarette and must be reported on packs.)
Whereas Ecuador prohibits the indication of TNCO yields, Canada, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and Peru require these values to be indicated without mandating upper limits. Canada demands values measured both with ISO standards and Health Canada's Intensive Method, as well as the yields for formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and benzene.
Asia & Pacific
CountryTarNicotineCOAs of151.3-2008 0211--2013 0117--1999 07201.5-1996 08101.0101993 05151.4--80.7--101.0-2013 03121.2-2007 07162.2-2007 03Tar/Nicotine ceilings will be gradually lowered in two-year intervals from 22/2 mg on March 17, 2008, to 16/1.4 mg on March 17, 2014 (All values in mg/cigarette and must be reported on packs (see exceptions below).)
Although many countries in the region do not impose formal ceilings, some still request that tar and nicotine yield values be indicated on the pack (India, Indonesia, Japan). In Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, on the other hand, measured values must only be reported to the government.
HARA<BE
Eastern Europe and former CIS
CountryTarNicotineCOAs of101102007 05141.2-2005 12141.2--12---101-2005 0414For filter cigarettes. Non filter: 16 mg tar and 1.3 mg nicotine1.2-2003 07141.2-101102008 03151.2-2008 01According to the Ministry of Agriculture Draft Law, the Max. Yield of Tar/Nicotine/CO for filter cigarettes suggested to be as follows: as of 01.01.2008 - 15/1,2 (+CO regulated); as of 01.01.2010 - 12/1,0/14; as of 01.01.2012 - 10/1,0/10 respectively.101102004 0210110 2010 0614As of January 2008 respective T/N/CO ceilings will be 12.0, 1.3, 13.0; as of January 2009 10.0, 1.2, 12.0; as of January 2010 10.0, 1.1, 11.0; as of January 2011 10.0, 1.0, 10.0.1.4142007 01161.4--15Ceiling values in Ukraine to be lowered to 12 mg and 1.2 mg/cigarette for tar and nicotine, respectively, as of Jan. 1, 20091.3-1997 07161.4-- (All values in mg/cigarette and must be reported on packs.)
While Kosovo should soon enact regulation imposing ceilings, Bosnia-Herzegovina only requires tar and nicotine yields to be indicated, without imposing maximal values.
European Union/EFTA
CountryTarNicotineCOAs of101102004 01101102004 01101102008 01101102004 05101102004 05101102004 01101102006 06101102004 01101102004 01101102004 01101102007 01101102004 04101102004 01101102003 09101102004 01101102004 10101102004 10101102004 06101102004 01101102004 04101102004 01101102004 01101102004 03101102004 01101102007 01101102006 07101102004 01101102004 01101102004 01101102004 10101102003 09 (All values in mg/cigarette.)
Current regulations are based on European Union directive . All yields must be indicated on the side of the pack with a minimum surface area of 10%, except for Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta (12%), Liechtenstein & Switzerland (15%) and Italy (20%).
The maximum levels have been previously limited to 15 mg tar (1992), then to 12 mg tar (01-1998), without maximum levels for nicotine and CO.
Middle East CountryTarNicotineCOAs of100.6121995 01101152004 01100.6121995 01100.6121995 01251.6-2005 07100.6121995 01100.6121995 01131.110.52007 01121102007 01100.6121995 01120.8-1995 01 (All values in mg/cigarette and must be reported on packs (see exceptions below.)
The Palestinian Authority and Yemen do not require tar and nicotine values to be indicated on the packs' side.
Notes and references
See also List of smoking bans