Tobacco Documents Online

CONFIDENTIAL TG~AGP/JP DIETHYLENE 6LYCOL A Note on Status for Tobacco Applications 29th August 198S °~ By: T.G. Nttche11 Cf The recent reports of the presence of dtethylene glycol tn wtnes from some European countr|es has led to speculation concern|ng tts eddtt|on to tobacco goods. in the United Ktngdom, dtethylene glycol ts NOT tncluded tn the published 11sts of pemJtted eddJttves for tobacco~roducts approved by the Independent Scientific Cmmtttee on Smoking and Health. Dlethylene glycol Js not tncluded tn the French Decree of 1984 on tobacco products and pemttted additives, but Jt Js pemtsstble under the Federal Republlc of Gemany Order of December 1977, as mended 1982. It ts also allowed tn Switzerland, according to the Order of Octbber 1978. The BAT Additives Suldance Panel has consistently advtsed Associates not to use dtethylene glycol as an addtttve to tobacco goods, either as a humectant or as a solvent for flavour or castng Ingredients. Humectants recommended as alternatives to dtethylene glycol tnclude glycerol, sorbttol, propylene glycol, tr]ethylene glycol. Alternative solvents tnclude ethanol and some splrtts, propylene glycol, trtacettn and trtethyl cttrate. ........... -T.G. HITCHELL o 0 c~ Cr~ r~) ...d

TGH/JP/AGP 29th August 1985 O!ETHYI.ENE GLYCOL - CONF[DENT%AL NOTES ON USAGE .. By: T.G. Nttcbe11, ° The strtctly legal posttton Indicates that tobacco products may contatn DE6 as an addtttve In some countries - e.g. FRG and Switzerland -whtlst tn others It should not be present - e.g. UK. For BAT companfes, the assumption ts that tt ts not betng used, at least outside of those where It Is specifically pemltted by law. Some variations In thts position may occur and have been nottfted to us In the past. Sudden shortages of acceptable hmnectants such as glycerol have forced some compan|es to constder using DES, at least on a temporary basis. A further variation has been Identified tnwhtch a non-BAT company has supplled a spectf|ed flavour for manufacture of a product under 11cence using DEG as solvent. In these circumstances, the AGP has deter- mined a maximum acceptable level of DEG use to be 0.5% by wefght on cigarette tobacco and 0.15% on ptpe tobacco. The Panel has maintained tts advice that a return to alternative materials should be made as soon as possible. It must also be recogntsed that DEG could occur on tobacco products Inadvertently, etther from tmport from a country where ttts pemtttod or from use as a flavour solvent, unknown to the manufacturer. Other lndfrect sources of DEG whtch could conceivably leave detectable restdues are from application as a solvent cleaner tn the production environment or as a carrter solvent for pesticide sprays. Our own approach ts to request suppliers to tdenttfy to us all Ingredients of additives, tncludlng solvents, to avo|d th|s occurr|ng. Those accepting more general assurances of acceptability may not be In thts position. T.G. MITCHELL c7~ c7~ co