Oman became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on June 7, 2005.
Smoke Free Places: Smoking in indoor public places and workplaces is restricted to designated smoking rooms except in “places of worship, educational institutions, government departments, health facilities and sports settings”, which must be completely smoke free. Smoking is prohibited in all means of public transport. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: There is a ban on most forms of direct tobacco advertising as well as many forms of promotion. However, some forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, such as point-of-sale product display and retailer incentive programs, may escape the ban. Although sponsorship by the tobacco industry is not completely prohibited, publicity of the sponsorship is prohibited.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Smoked tobacco products must carry one of four authorized combined text/picture health warnings. The warning must occupy 50 percent of the front and back of the package. The law does not contain specific rotation requirements, instead stating that warnings are to be updated “as required by the public interest”. Smokeless tobacco products are banned. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light”, “mild”, and “low”, and other signs, is prohibited.
Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Oman are below these recommendations.
SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
---|---|
Health-care facilities
Yes
|
Private offices
No
|
Primary and secondary schools
Yes
|
Public transport
Yes
|
Universities
Yes
|
Restaurants
No
|
Governmental facilities
Yes
|
Bars and Pubs
No
|
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
Yes
|
BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
---|---|
Domestic TV and radio
Yes
|
Promotional discounts
Yes
|
Domestic magazines and newspapers
Yes
|
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
Yes
|
Outdoor advertising
Yes
|
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
Yes
|
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
Yes
|
Paid placement in media
Yes
|
Retail product display
No
|
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
Yes
|
Internet advertising
Yes
|
Publicity of sponsorships
Yes
|
Free distribution
Uncertain
|
HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
---|---|
Text warnings describe health impacts
Yes
|
Number of published warnings at any given time
4
|
Warnings include a picture or graphic
Yes
|
Warnings required to rotate
Uncertain
|
% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
50%
|
Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
Yes
|
Front
50%
|
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
Yes
|
Back
50%
|
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
Yes
|
TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
---|---|
PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) |
In country currency
2.20
OMR
|
Total taxes
64%
|
In US dollars
5.72
USD
|
Total excise
50%
|
Sources:
SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org
Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021. Available at: www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/
Last updated: July 27, 2020