Last updated: August 20, 2020
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include domestic TV and radio.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to domestic TV and radio.
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include domestic newspapers and magazines.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to 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 tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include all domestic print media.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, signs, etc.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, both local and international, which is interpreted to include international TV and radio.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to international TV and radio.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, both local and international, which is interpreted to include international newspapers and magazines.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, both local and international, which is interpreted to include internet communications.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to internet communications.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include outdoor advertising.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to outdoor advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include advertising at point of sale.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to point of sale advertising and promotion. For better clarity, the law should better define the limited exception to the ban on advertising, which appears to allow consumers to receive information on the characteristics of tobacco products at places where tobacco products are sold.
Point of sale product display
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is interpreted to include product displays at point of sale. Tobacco products are not allowed to be placed or be visible at any sales point, and may not be displayed for commercial purposes at any other place. Tobacco products may only be visible at the time of sales transaction.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to product displays at point of sale. For better clarity, the law should better define the limited exception to the ban on advertising, which appears to allow consumers to receive information on the characteristics of tobacco products at places where tobacco products are sold.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, local or international, which is interpreted to include conventional mail.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, local or international, which is interpreted to include telephone or cellular phones.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in regards to telephone and cellular phones.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion, local or international, which is interpreted to include brand marking.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including free distribution of tobacco products. The law also prohibits entities that manufacture, import, or trade tobacco products from giving them away.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines and meets FCTC Art. 16 with respect to 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 tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include promotions with a tobacco product purchase.
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 tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include competitions.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotions with competitions associated with tobacco products.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include direct person to person targeting of individuals.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include brand stretching. In addition, the law prohibits the advertising of non-tobacco products which by “their appearance, name and purpose of use, encourage the use of tobacco products.”
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 tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include 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 the sale of toys that have the form of a tobacco product. The law also prohibits advertising non-tobacco products that encourage the use of tobacco products, which is interpreted to include 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 the sale of candy that has the form of a tobacco product. The law also prohibits advertising non-tobacco products that encourage the use of tobacco products, which is interpreted to include candy that resembles 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 all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, including sponsoring by manufacturers or importers any programs to secretly or openly promote tobacco products. This is interpreted to include retailer incentive programs.
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, promotion and sponsorship. The law also specifically prohibits tobacco manufacturers or importers from sponsoring programs in print and electronic media as a way to encourage, secretly or openly, the use of tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with regards to paid placement of tobacco products.
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 all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which is interpreted to include unpaid depiction of tobacco use or products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with regards to unpaid depiction of tobacco products.
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 local and international sponsorship of events or activities. The law defines “direct or indirect sponsorship” as “any form of contribution to any event, activity, organization, or individual that has the purpose, effect, or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use.” Additionally the law prohibits stimulating, providing access to, and being involved or taking part in any sponsorship, including receiving or facilitating any sponsorship contribution.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to financial contributions to promote tobacco products.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
All contributions by the tobacco industry are prohibited. Therefore, there can be no publicity of such sponsorship.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to publicity of tobacco sponsorship.
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, promotion and sponsorship; therefore, there can be no false or misleading advertising and promotion. Additionally, the design and marking of the products themselves are not permitted to be misleading in any way.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to misleading promotion.
