Analysis
The law requires that all tobacco product packages display health warnings, comprised of legible text and corresponding images, and “covering the proportion of each display area prescribed by the Minister in regulations, which shall be fifty percent (50%) of each principal display area.” The warnings are to be placed at or toward the top of each principal display area and should not be obstructed.
The law also requires the Minister of Health to prescribe a set of at least six health warnings to be displayed during a rotation period of up to 24 months. During the rotation period, the warnings “must appear on an equal number of retail packages for each brand within each brand family for each package and size and type.” Also, when transitioning between rotation periods, the law allows for a six-month phase in period, where both the old and new warnings may be used.
The requirement for health warnings takes effect nine months from the date the first set of health warnings is published in the Gazette.
To date, the regulations and the electronic images have not been issued.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 and aligns with the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to size, location, and rotation of health warnings on packages of smokeless tobacco products.
