Comoros

Comoros became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on April 24, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

The law prohibits smoking in many public places and workplaces, but allows designated smoking areas in certain public places and workplaces including offices, bars, restaurants, hotels, and cinemas. Smoking is prohibited in all forms of public transport.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

The law bans most forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, but allows tobacco advertising and promotions at points of sale. Tobacco sponsorship is prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

The law requires two health warnings to appear on all outside packaging and labeling of smoked tobacco products. Additionally, the law allows but does not require adding a picture or pictogram warning to all smoked tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco products are subject to different warning requirements. The law does not require rotation or renewal of prescribed warnings.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

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

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products in educational, healthcare, and athletic facilities, and public, semi-public, and private offices. However, there are no restrictions on the sale of single cigarettes, small packs of cigarettes, or tobacco products via vending machine or the internet. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Comoros enacted three key pieces of legislation between 2010 and 2013 regulating smoke free places, packaging and labeling of tobacco products and advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. The first statute, enacted in May 2010, Ministry of Health Order No. 018 Concerning the Prohibition of Smoking in All Means of Public Transport, as well as Advertising for Tobacco imposes a prohibition on smoking on all means of public transportation and prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion. This was followed by Law No. 11-002, enacted in March 2011. Law No. 11-002 is a comprehensive act imposing tobacco control regulations in the areas of smoke-free places, tobacco packaging and labeling regulations and tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Lastly, the Ministry of Health Order No. 13-012 was enacted in April 2013 and imposes regulations regarding the packaging and labeling of smoked and smokeless tobacco products and regulates the creation of smoking areas in places where smoking areas may be created.

However, the legal measures in effect in Comoros are difficult to interpret due to inconsistencies and contradictory provisions in the law and implementing instruments. Therefore, the regulatory status code and analysis of the measures may be subject to several alternative interpretations.

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts.