Last updated: September 21, 2022
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic TV and radio is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic TV and radio.
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion in domestic newspapers and magazines is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion in domestic newspapers and magazines.
Other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, signs (not including print advertising at the point of sale)
Other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflet, flyers, posters, signs (not including print advertising at the point of sale)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, and signs, is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion in other domestic print media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic TV and radio is banned. However, because the law does not explicitly address international TV and radio, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should make clear that tobacco advertising and promotion is prohibited on international TV and radio, both originating in Armenia for broadcast out of Armenia and originating out of Armenia for broadcast in Armenia.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion in domestic newspapers and magazines is banned. However, because the law does not explicitly address international newspapers and magazines, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should make clear that tobacco advertising and promotion is prohibited in international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through internet communications is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to internet advertising.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through outdoor advertising is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to outdoor tobacco advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, point of sale tobacco advertising and promotion is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale tobacco advertising and promotion.
Point of sale product display
The law prohibits the public display and visibility of tobacco products in shops and catering establishments, except for airport duty-free shops. In duty-free shops, display is prohibited in a way that allows direct consumer access.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all point of sale product display.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion by conventional mail is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion by telephone and cellular (mobile) phone is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through telephone and cellular phone.
Brand marking on physical structures
Distinctive words, designs, images, logos, sounds, or colors to promote tobacco products in entertainment venues, retail outlets, on vehicles and equipment, or other physical structures (brand marking on physical structures, other than on tobacco product packaging and labeling and print material)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, brand marking on physical structures is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking on physical structures.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law prohibits the distribution of tobacco products free of charge.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines and meets FCTC Art. 16 with respect to the free distribution of tobacco products.
Promotions with a tobacco product purchase
Promotional discounts, gifts, prizes, rewards to consumers in conjunction with a tobacco product purchase (e.g., buy one pack, get one free or, key chains, t-shirts, coupons, points)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco promotion. Given that the definition of “tobacco promotion” is broad (encompassing anything that may directly or indirectly promote increased consumption of tobacco products), all promotions with a tobacco product purchase are prohibited. In addition, the law also specifically prohibits discounts of tobacco products and selling tobacco products as a package with non-tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotions with a tobacco product purchase.
Competitions associated with tobacco products
Competitions associated with tobacco products or brand names, whether requiring the purchase of a tobacco product or not
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The definitions of “advertising,” “tobacco promotion,” and “tobacco sponsorship” are broad and encompass any actions that directly or indirectly promote tobacco use. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting competitions associated with tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. The definitions of “advertising” and “tobacco promotion” are broad encompass any actions that directly or indirectly promote tobacco use. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting direct person to person targeting of individuals.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through direct person-to-person targeting.
Brand stretching/trademark diversification
Non-tobacco products or services using tobacco brand names or carrying a brand logo or other brand indicia (brand stretching)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. The definitions of “advertising” and “tobacco promotion” are broad and encompass any actions that directly or indirectly promote tobacco use. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting brand stretching.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching.
Reverse brand stretching or brand sharing
Tobacco products or services using non-tobacco brand names (reverse brand stretching or brand sharing)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. The definitions of “advertising” and “tobacco promotion” are broad and encompass any actions that directly or indirectly promote tobacco use. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting reverse brand stretching.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to reverse brand stretching.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law prohibits manufacturing, importing, and selling food or toys that resemble tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to toys that resemble tobacco products.
Candy that resembles tobacco products
The law prohibits manufacturing, importing, and selling food or toys that resemble tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to candy that resembles tobacco products.
Retailer incentive programs
Retailer incentive programs (e.g., rewards to retailers for achieving certain sales volume, enhanced displays, etc.) or other payments to encourage them to sell tobacco products
The law prohibits tobacco promotion, which is defined as “any action . . . that impacts or may indirectly impact the increase of consumption of tobacco products . . . or indirectly raises the interest toward tobacco products . . .” This definition is interpreted to encompass retailer incentive programs. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to retailer incentive programs.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. The definitions of “advertising” and “tobacco promotion” are broad and encompass any actions that directly or indirectly promote tobacco use. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting paid placement of tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media.
Unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in media that does not serve a legitimate purpose
Unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film or other media that is not legitimate journalistic, artistic, or academic expression or legitimate social or political commentary
The law prohibits the depiction of tobacco products or their use in audiovisual works produced in Armenia for children, including in TV movies, video-films, theatrical performances, broadcast via television, radio, or the Internet. If tobacco products are displayed in other audio or video productions aimed at adults (including TV movies, video-films, broadcast via television, radio, or the internet), the production must contain a warning (visual or audio) on the adverse effects of tobacco use.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film, and other entertainment media that does not serve a legitimate purpose.
Tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations or governments
Financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry to events, activities, individuals or groups (e.g., groups involved in sports, the arts, politics, charitable or welfare, or other activities, or youth smoking prevention programs)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco sponsorship, which is defined in accordance with the FCTC definition of “tobacco sponsorship.”
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations, and governments.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
The law prohibits all tobacco industry sponsorship. Therefore, there can be no publicity of tobacco industry sponsorship.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry.
Promotion by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive
Promotion by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about a product's characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions (covering any term, descriptor, trademark, emblem, marketing image, logo, color and figurative, or any other indicia)
The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. In addition, the law prohibits the use of descriptors such as “low nicotine (tar),” “light,” “very light” (“super light”), “soft,” “unique filter,” and other misleading terms on tobacco product packaging. Therefore, all promotion by any means that are false, misleading, or deceptive are prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to the promotion of tobacco products by false, misleading, or deceptive means.
