Last updated: October 6, 2023
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 and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to include domestic TV and radio.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion on domestic TV and radio.
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to include domestic newspapers and magazines.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to include other domestic print media.
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.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means in the media. This is interpreted to prohibit electronic media including internet communications.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to internet communications.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, the law does not explicitly address advertising on international TV and radio. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should make clear that tobacco advertising and promotion on international (cross-border) TV and radio is prohibited.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, the law does not explicitly address advertising in international newspapers and magazines is prohibited. Therefore, the regulatory status code "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should make clear that tobacco advertising and promotion in international (cross-border) newspapers and magazines is prohibited.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. In addition, the law prohibits the placement of announcements or promotional signs “in stores or anywhere else.” Therefore, outdoor advertising is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to outdoor tobacco advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. In addition, the law prohibits the placement of announcements or promotional signs “in stores or anywhere else.” Therefore, point of sale advertising is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale tobacco advertising and promotion.
Point of sale product display
The law does not specifically address point of sale product display. Therefore, the law is interpreted as permitting point of sale product display.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should explicitly prohibit the display of tobacco products at points of sale.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to include conventional mail.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to include telephone and cellular phone.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through 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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. This is interpreted to prohibit advertising through brand marking on physical structures.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking on physical structures.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law prohibits the free distribution of tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines and meets FCTC Art. 16 with respect to the 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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers promotions with a tobacco product purchase.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all promotions with a tobacco product purchase and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers competitions associated with tobacco products.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all competitions associated with tobacco products and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers direct person-to-person targeting.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit direct person-to-person targeting and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers brand stretching.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit brand stretching and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
Reverse brand stretching or brand sharing
Tobacco products or services using non-tobacco brand names (reverse brand stretching or brand sharing)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers reverse brand stretching or brand sharing.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit reverse brand stretching and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers toys that resemble tobacco products.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit toys that resemble tobacco products and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
Candy that resembles tobacco products
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to candy that resembles tobacco products. The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers candy that resembles tobacco products.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit candy that resembles tobacco products and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers retailer incentive programs.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit retailer incentive programs and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion through any direct or indirect means. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” it is uncertain whether the ban covers unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film, and other media.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film, and other media and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 the adoption or sponsorship of any social, academic, health-related, or sports activities or any other activities. However, “tobacco sponsorship” is not defined. The law makes no mention of individuals or groups/organizations. Therefore, the law appears to prohibit sponsorship of activities, but not those to individuals or groups/organizations.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations, and governments, and define "tobacco sponsorship" in accordance with the definition contained in FCTC Art. 1(g).
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
While the law does not prohibit all tobacco sponsorship, the law generally prohibits all direct and indirect advertising and promotion of tobacco products. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” the full scope of the ban is uncertain. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit publicity of tobacco sponsorship and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
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 direct and indirect advertising and promotion of tobacco products. However, because the law does not define “tobacco advertising and promotion,” the full scope of the ban is uncertain. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Uncertain” is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit the promotion of tobacco products by false, misleading or deceptive means and define “tobacco advertising and promotion” in accordance with the definition provided in FCTC Art. 1.
