New ruling to ban menthol products in cigarettes


The Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority (TAPDK) has imposed a ban on the usage of menthol and similar products ın the production of cigarettes and chopped tobacco as well as the raw material that is used in these products. According to the ruling, it will be banned to use menthol and its derivatives – mint, which belongs to Lamiaceae family, l-menthol, d-menthol, menthone, methyl ester, methyl acetate, mint ester, mint oil and mint lactone – in cigarettes and chopped tobacco that are produced in Turkey or imported brands along with rolling papers, glue, ink that is used on the rolling papers and packaging. Menthol can be used in the production of cigarettes and tobacco until Jan. 1, 2019, and they can be introduced to the market until May 20, 2020, and afterward it will be illegal to produce or introduce these products to the market. Officials said that they are working on a new ruling that will also ban flavored narghile tobacco and it is expecting that this new regulation will be imposed soon. Officials have also indicated that they are aiming to put tobacco laws in line with European Union laws.