Last updated: March 6, 2020
Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Warning requirements on unit packaging and labeling (e.g., packs)
As of January 1, 2013, the law requires warnings on “unit packages, as well as any external packaging used for the retail sail of the product, excluding transparent outer wrappings.”
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings on unit packaging.
Warning/messages required on outside packaging and labeling (e.g., cartons)
As of January 1, 2013, the law requires warnings on “unit packages, as well as any external packaging used for the retail sail of the product, excluding transparent outer wrappings.”
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings on outside packaging and labeling.
Warning texts must be in the principal language(s) of the country
As of January 1, 2013, the law requires that the warnings be written in Chinese on one of the principal display areas and in Portuguese on the other principal display area.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings in the principal languages 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 affirmatively require that warnings or messages not be placed where they may be permanently damaged or concealed when opening the pack.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should affirmatively require that warnings may not be placed where they may be permanently 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
As of January 1, 2013, the law requires that warnings may not be obscured, hidden or separated by other statements or images.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to requiring that warnings not be placed where they may be concealed by tax stamps or other required markings.
A requirement to display qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages
The law does not require qualitative constituent and emissions messages. Rather, the law requires quantitative yields for tar and nicotine on cigarette packaging.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should affirmatively require qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages and prohibit the display of quantitative yields of emissions.
Prohibition on the display of figures for emission yields (including tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide)
The law does not prohibit the display of figures for emission yields but rather requires the display of quantitative emission yields.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should affirmatively require qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages and prohibit the display of quantitative yields of emissions.
Plain or standardized packaging
Plain packaging of tobacco products is not required in Macau. 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 “texts, designations, marks and figurative symbols or other signs that suggest that a particular product is less harmful than others.” However, the law exempts from the prohibition commercial markings that were registered as of the date of entry into force of the Tobacco Control Law. For packages with exempt markings, including “light,” “lights,” “super-light,” “ultra-light,” “mild,” “milds,” “filter,” or the like, may continue to be sold as long as they insert into the respective packaging unit, in Chinese and Portuguese, the following warning: “THIS PRODUCT IS JUST AS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH AS OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS”.
To meet FCTC Art. 11, the law should prohibit all misleading tobacco product packaging and labeling, regardless if the markings were registered prior to entry into force of the Tobacco Control Law.
