Last updated: January 11, 2021
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising through press or media. Therefore, tobacco advertising via domestic TV and radio is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic broadcast media.
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits tobacco advertising through press or media. Therefore, tobacco advertising in domestic newspapers and magazines is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting tobacco advertising and promotion in 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 tobacco advertising through press, media, and posters. Therefore, tobacco advertising via other domestic print media is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting tobacco advertising and promotion in domestic print media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all cross-border tobacco advertising and promotion, and tobacco advertisement materials are prohibited from entering the country. Therefore, tobacco advertising via international TV and radio is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to international TV and radio.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all cross-border tobacco advertising and promotion, and tobacco advertisement materials are prohibited from entering the country. Therefore, tobacco advertising via international newspapers and magazines is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising by means of “advanced technologies.” This is interpreted to include tobacco advertising via internet communications.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting tobacco advertising and promotion via internet communications.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising via billboards, street advertising signs, and posters. Therefore, tobacco advertising via outdoor advertising is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to outdoor advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion at the point of sale, permitting only the display of the product name and price.
The law aligns with FCTC Art.13 and the FCTC Art.13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale advertising and promotion.
Point of sale product display
The law permits the display of tobacco products in points of sale.
To align with FCTC Art.13 and the FCTC Art.13 Guidelines, the law should ban point of sale product displays.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits tobacco advertising through the press and “other direct physical forms.” This is interpreted to include advertising by conventional mail. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting tobacco advertising and promotion via conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits tobacco advertising through cell phone and “other advanced technologies.” This is interpreted to include advertising by telephone as well. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting tobacco advertising and promotion via telephone and cellular phone.
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 the use of trademarks, trade names, and logos of the tobacco industry or tobacco products on goods, clothes, or consumer items, as well as placing tobacco brand images or logos near entertainment or service organizations.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking through words, designs, images, logos, sounds, or colors.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law prohibits distributing free gifts or samples.
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 promotional sales in any form as well as the promotion of tobacco products through lotteries, competitions, contests, sales, promotions, discounts, and sponsorships. Therefore, the law bans 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 promotional sales in any form as well as the promotion of tobacco products through lotteries, competitions, and contests.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products or brand names.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law does not address direct person-to-person targeting of individuals. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing such practices.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit direct person-to-person targeting of individuals.
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 brand stretching, which is defined as when a tobacco brand name, trademark, logo, or other distinctive feature is connected with a non-tobacco product or service in such a way that the tobacco product and the non-tobacco product or service are likely to be associated.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching/trademark diversification.
Reverse brand stretching or brand sharing
Tobacco products or services using non-tobacco brand names (reverse brand stretching or brand sharing)
The law prohibits brand sharing, which is defined as when a brand name, trademark, logo, or other distinctive feature on a non-tobacco product or service is connected with the tobacco industry in such a way that the tobacco industry and the non-tobacco product or service are likely to be associated.
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 manufacture of toys that imitate 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 manufacture of candy that imitates 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 the promotion of tobacco products through sales, promotions, discounts, and sponsorships. In addition, the law prohibits the direct or indirect advertising of tobacco products by means of a financial or material donation by the tobacco industry. This would cover practices such as payments to retail sellers. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting retailer incentive programs.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to retailer incentive programs (e.g., rewards to retailers for achieving certain sales volumes, enhancing displays, etc.) or other payments to encourage them to sell tobacco products.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits tobacco advertising by media and movies. This is interpreted to include paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, or other media. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, or other media.
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 does not address unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film, or other entertainment media. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing unpaid depiction.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should specifically address unpaid placement in accordance with FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines paras. 29-32.
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 tobacco sponsorship of health, education, cultural, sports, or other social events as well as any donations, contributions, or grants by the tobacco industry. The law also prohibits “social responsibility” contributions to social, health, welfare, environmental, or other organizations, either through the tobacco industry or through another organization.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations or governments.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
Since tobacco sponsorship is banned, there can be no publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to banning publicity of tobacco industry contributions.
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 tobacco advertising by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive, or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards, or emissions. Furthermore, the law prohibits language that implies certain cigarettes are less damaging to health than others, or its equivalents including through the use of symbols, images, colors or combinations thereof on any cigarette pack or carton.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotion by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive, or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards, or emissions.
