Madagascar

Madagascar became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is banned in all indoor workplaces, indoor public places, and public transport.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

The law broadly bans tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, but does not explicitly prohibit point of sale product display.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

On packages of cigarettes and snuff, the law requires a photo or color image to cover at least 50 percent of the front surface of the packaging unit, as well as a text warning covering at least 50 percent of the lower part of the rear surface of the packaging unit. With respect to rotation, four textual warnings with corresponding photos or images are to be used simultaneously for a period of one year. On packages of chewing tobacco, the law requires a text-only warning to cover at least 50 percent of the back surface of the packaging unit. With respect to rotation, two warnings are to be used simultaneously for a period of one year. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as light and mild and other signs, 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. There are no restrictions on the sale of single cigarette sticks, small packets of cigarettes, or tobacco products via the internet.  The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Madagascar enacted tobacco control legislation through Interministerial Order No. 18171 Laying Down the Rules on Industrialization, Importation, Marketing and Consumption of Tobacco Products in Madagascar, which went into effect in October 2003. The packaging and labeling provisions of the initial legislation were subsequently amended by Decree No. 2010-1008 Concerning Packaging and Labeling of Tobacco Products for Sale in Madagascar in December 2010; Interministerial Order No. 14.762/2012 Setting the Procedures for the Implementation of Decree No. 2010-1008 in October 2012; Administrative Order No. 23994/2014 in July 2014; Interministerial Order No. 31.701/2015 in October 2015; and Interministerial Order No. 13.674/2017 in June 2017. The most recent order provides the current contents of the pictorial health warnings required on tobacco product packaging and labeling. Interministerial Administrative Order No. 29.511/2013 Concerning the Prohibition of Smoking in All Indoor or Enclosed Places that Constitute Workplaces, Public Places and Public Transportation entered into effect in October 2014 and prohibits smoking in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and on public transport.

Review Status

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