Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on October 29, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in all virtually all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and on all means of public transportation.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

Most forms of tobacco advertising and promotion are prohibited. Tobacco advertising and promotion through posters within the point of sale are permitted, as long as such materials are not visible from outside the point of sale. Further, the legislation gives the Minister of Health authority to prescribe exceptions with regard to many forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. To our knowledge, no such regulations have been issued as of the date of this review. All forms of tobacco sponsorship are prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

All tobacco product packaging must display health warnings covering at least 60 percent of the main surfaces of the package. Two picture and text health warnings are required to be displayed over 24 months (one per year). Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light” and “low tar,” 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 prohibits the sale of tobacco products via vending machines, the internet, and within or in the vicinity of schools. The law also prohibits the sale of single cigarettes and small packets of cigarettes. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Burkina Faso enacted strong tobacco control legislation through Law No. 040-2010/Concerning the Campaign Against Tobacco (as promulgated by Decree No. 2010-823), which went into effect on November 25, 2011. Three subsequent decrees, which all went into effect on December 30, 2011, implemented the requirements of law relating to smoke free places, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and partially the packaging and labeling of tobacco products, among other requirements. In addition to the primary tobacco control law, Law No. 080-2015/AN Concerning the Regulation of Advertising regulates tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Joint Administrative Order No. 2015-366/MS/MICA provides the implementing details for the health warnings on tobacco packaging and the ban on misleading packaging and labeling. Joint Order No. 2021-055 contains the second set of pictorial health warnings. Joint Order No. 2023-322 contains the third set of pictorial health warnings.

Review Status

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