Last updated: September 21, 2022
Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Warning requirements on unit packaging and labeling (e.g., packs)
The law requires health warnings on “all packages of tobacco products or cigarettes.”
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11.
Warning/messages required on outside packaging and labeling (e.g., cartons)
The law requires health warnings on “all packages of tobacco products or cigarettes.”
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11.
Warning texts must be in the principal language(s) of the country
Warning texts must appear in Arabic.
This legislative provision meets FCTC Art. 11 requirements of warning texts appearing in the principal language of the country.
A requirement that warnings or messages may not be placed where they may be permanently damaged or concealed when opening the pack
The law does not specifically state that the warnings and messages may not be placed where they may be damaged or concealed when opening the pack.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should state that warnings and messages may not be placed where they may be damaged or concealed when opening the pack.
A requirement that tax stamps or other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages
The law does not specifically state that tax stamps and other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal health warnings or messages.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should state that tax stamps and other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal health warnings or messages.
A requirement to display qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages
The law does not require a qualitative (descriptive) statement on constituents and emissions.
FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines para. 33 states that “Parties should require that relevant qualitative statements be displayed on each unit packet or package about the emissions of the tobacco product. Examples of such statements include 'smoke from these cigarettes contains benzene, a known cancer-causing substance' and 'smoking exposes you to more than 60 cancer-causing chemicals’.” To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should require qualitative constituents and emissions disclosures.
Prohibition on the display of figures for emission yields (including tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide)
Contrary to the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the Bylaw requires that the quantity of tar and nicotine be displayed on tobacco product packages.
To align with the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, figures for emission yields should be prohibited.
Plain or standardized packaging
Plain packaging of tobacco products is not required in Egypt. The FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines provide that Parties should consider adopting plain packaging measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colors, brand images, or other promotional information on packaging other than brand and product names displayed in a standard color and font style. Plain packaging aims to reduce the appeal of tobacco products, to increase the noticeability of health warnings, and to reduce the ability of the packaging of tobacco products to mislead consumers about the harmful effects of smoking.
Prohibition on misleading tobacco packaging & labeling including terms, descriptors, trademarks, figurative or other signs (logos, colors, images that directly create a false impression that a tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products)
The law prohibits the use of the terms “light,” “low tar,” and “very low tar” on tobacco product packaging. However, the law does not prohibit the use of other misleading terms, descriptors, figures, or other indicia that create an erroneous impression about the health effects of a tobacco product.
To meet FCTC Art. 11, in addition to descriptive terms, the law should prohibit these types of misleading indicia on all tobacco packaging and labeling.
