Nepal

COMMENTS: The Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act, 2010 is the primary law governing tobacco control in Nepal and regulates, among other things, smoking in public places, workplaces, and public transport; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and tobacco packaging and labeling.

COMMENTS: Directives for Printing and Labeling of Warning Message and Graphics in the Boxes, Packets, Wrappers, Cartons, Parcels and Packaging of Tobacco Products – 2068 (2011) was issued under the Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act 2010 and provides the content and format of warnings to be printed on tobacco product packaging. The requirements were implemented in April 2014, following an unsuccessful challenge by the tobacco industry initiated in 2011.

COMMENTS: Tobacco Products (Control and Regulation) Regulation - 2068 (2011) was issued under the Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act 2010. The Regulations implement provisions on smoking in public places and tobacco packaging and labeling.

COMMENTS: The Tobacco Product Control and Regulatory Directive - 2014 provides further implementing details under the Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act 2010. Notably, it includes definitions of several key terms which clarifies the scope of the restrictions on smoking in public places, workplaces, and public transport. In addition, it strengthens the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and contains provisions implementing FCTC Art. 5.3 (protection against industry interference).

COMMENTS: The Directive on Printing Warning Messages and Pictures on Tobacco Product Boxes, Packets, Cartons, Parcels and Packaging Materials (2014) increases the size of mandatory health warnings to ninety percent of the front and back of all tobacco product packaging. The Directive also institutes new text warnings and pictures. The Directive took effect on May 15, 2015, but actual implementation was delayed due to the April 2015 earthquake.

COMMENTS: The Ministry of Health issued this Public Notice under the authority in Sec. 11(6) of the Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act, 2010. The Public Notice establishes rules for the sale and distribution of tobacco products.