Last updated: September 17, 2019

Action Required for Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship Not Banned

Disclosure to the government by the tobacco industry of information on advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities and expenditures

Not Required
Analysis

The law does not require disclosure to the government by the tobacco industry of information on advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities and expenditures.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines para. 41, the law should require disclosure by the tobacco industry to relevant governmental authorities of any advertising, promotion and sponsorship in which it engages. The disclosures should be made at regular intervals prescribed by law and in response to specific requests.

Health warning messages required on permitted forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Required
Analysis

The Protection of Health Act requires that “information about tobacco products” at point of sale contain a warning occupying at least 20% of the information space. The Ministry of Health Regulations likewise require one of two primary health warnings to be placed on communications regarding tobacco products displayed at points of sale. By definition (Art. 2, Protection of Health Act), “information about tobacco products” may not contain any “message encouraging buying and consuming tobacco products.” Thus, point of sale signs may contain informational text only. No other advertising at point of sale, or otherwise, is permitted.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to health warning messages on permitted forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Disclosed information readily available to the public

Not Required
Analysis

The law does not require disclosure of information on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship by the tobacco industry; therefore the law does not require that such information be made readily available to the public.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines paras. 41-42, the law should require disclosure by the tobacco industry to government of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship activities and expenditures, and require the government to make this information readily available to the public.