Location and Size of Warnings / Messages on Unit Packaging
50% of Front, 50% of Back
Rotation
Required
Number of Warnings / Messages Authorized to Be Displayed at Any Given Time
6
Length of Rotation Period
Specified
- 12 months
Analysis
As of January 1, 2013, smoked tobacco product packages must carry one of six authorized pictorial health warnings, occupying 50% of the two principal display areas. The health warnings are made up of an illustration, a health warning, and a quitline number. The combined warnings must appear on one principal display area in Chinese and on the other principal display area in Portuguese.
The law requires rotation and specifies that each combined health warning “must be printed on the respective package for a maximum continuous period of 12 months.” It is unclear from this language whether this means that the six warnings run consecutively, each being displayed for a 12-month period, or if the warnings run concurrently and a new set of six warnings will be issued after a 12-month period.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines regarding form, content, and size.
