Barbados

Barbados became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 1, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in all indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport. Public place is defined broadly in the law to include any building owned or operated by the government, workplaces, and cultural sites.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship generally are allowed. The law does prohibit, however, advertising and promotion of the use of tobacco products by minors and advertising that is false and misleading.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Health warnings are pictorial and text; must cover 60 percent of the front and back of packages; and must be rotated every 12 months. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law does not grant the authority to regulate the contents of cigarettes. The law does not require that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents and emissions of their products.

Sales Restrictions

The law restricts the sale of tobacco products via vending machine. There are no restrictions on the sale of single cigarette sticks, small packets of cigarettes, or tobacco products via internet or based on location. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-Cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. The law prohibits the use of e-cigarettes where smoking is prohibited, which includes all indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport. In addition, the law restricts the advertising of e-cigarettes, health claims in permitted forms of advertising, point of sale product display, and vending machine sales.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

The Health Services Act is the principal law governing tobacco control in Barbados. The 2009 amendment to the Health Services Act includes a definition of tobacco products, and the 2017 amendment to the Act includes a definition of electronic smoking devices and related provisions. Regulations enacted in 2017 to implement the law repeal regulations enacted in 2010. The 2017 regulations contain a number of definitions and address smoke-free public places, protection of minors, and tobacco advertising and promotion. Additional regulations also enacted in 2017 address the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff. No in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts reviewed our analysis.