Last updated: May 26, 2022
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion on 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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic newspapers and magazines is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion in domestic print media is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion in other domestic print media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. However, because the law does not explicitly address international TV and radio, the regulatory status code "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should expressly prohibit tobacco advertising and promotion via international or cross-border TV.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. However, because the law does not explicitly address international newspapers and magazines, the regulatory status code "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should expressly prohibit tobacco advertising and promotion via international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through internet communications is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through internet communications.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through outdoor advertising is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion on outdoor advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion at point of sale is banned.
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 does not prohibit point of sale product display, and provides that “shops displaying tobacco… for sale” must follow certain rules, including displaying “cautionary statements and images inside the store or on other conspicuous banners.” Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing tobacco product display at point of sale.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit tobacco product display, including the visibility of tobacco products, at point of sale.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through conventional mail is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion via conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through telephone and cellular phone is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Given this broad definition, the law is interpreted as banning brand marking.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines on brand marking.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Given this broad definition, the law is interpreted to cover free distribution of tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines 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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, promotions with a tobacco product purchase are banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotions with a purchase of tobacco products.
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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through competitions associated with tobacco products is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion through direct person-to-person targeting of individuals is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to direct person to person tobacco advertising.
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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Given this broad definition, the law is interpreted as banning brand stretching.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines on 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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives.
The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Given this broad definition, the law is interpreted as banning reverse brand stretching.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law prohibits the import, trade, display, sale, distribution and manufacture of “simulators of smoking tools.” This is defined in the law as every product that does not contain tobacco but “looks like it,” including children’s toys. Therefore, toys that resemble tobacco products are banned.
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 import, trade, display, sale, distribution and manufacture of “simulators of smoking tools.” This is defined in the law as every product that does not contain tobacco but “looks like it,” including “sweets.” Therefore, candy that resembles tobacco products is banned.
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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. This is interpreted to cover retailer incentive programs.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to retailer incentive programs.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including any visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products in film and 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 prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. The law provides examples of advertising in its definition, including visual, audio or print media or any other promotional means. Therefore, unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in media is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in media that does not serve a legitimate purpose.
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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. Therefore, tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations, or governments is banned.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco industry sponsorship. For greater clarity, the law should define "tobacco sponsorship" in accordance the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1(g).
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
The law prohibits advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and its derivatives. Because all sponsorship is prohibited, there can be no publicity of such sponsorship.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry.
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 advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco an d its derivatives. Consequently, all forms of misleading promotion are likewise prohibited. In addition, the law prohibits the presentation of tobacco product labels or descriptive data in such a way that it could result in a mistaken impression about its attributes or convey the idea that it is less harmful, with the use of such terms as: light, extra light, gentle, low tar, zero nicotine or tar, mild, low, and similar terms.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotion of tobacco products by means that are false, misleading or deceptive.
