Last updated: September 11, 2023
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via TV, cable, and radio as examples.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to domestic TV and radio.
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via print media as an example.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via print media and posters as examples.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to other domestic print media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via TV, cable, and radio “or any other medium that has cross-border effects” as examples.
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 tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via print media and “any other advertising medium that has cross-border effects” as examples. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibited tobacco advertising in international newspapers and magazines.
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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising via the internet as an example.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to internet communications.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists “outdoor media advertising,” billboards, and posters as examples.
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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists advertising in the external and internal areas of sales outlets as examples.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale advertising.
Point of sale product display
The law prohibits the display of tobacco products at the point of sale.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale product display.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits all tobacco advertising and promotion, and specifically lists print media (the medium required for advertising through conventional mail) as an example. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes “direct offers of promotional material (including information),” which would also cover advertising via conventional mail.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes “telephony” and “digital communication platforms.”
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is broadly defined. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes provision of support “in exchange for the construction or renovation of the premises to promote tobacco products or the use or supply of awnings or umbrellas.” Together, these provisions are interpreted as prohibited brand marking.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking.
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 free distribution.
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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is broadly defined. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes promotional incentives, loyalty plans, and the promotion of discounted products. Together, these provisions prohibit all 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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is broadly defined. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes competitions associated with tobacco products or brands.
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 all tobacco advertising and promotion, which is broadly defined. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes “direct offers of promotional material (including information).” Therefore, the law prohibits direct person to person targeting of individuals.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to 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 specifically prohibits the use of tobacco product logos, brands, and elements of brands on non-tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching.
Reverse brand stretching or brand sharing
Tobacco products or services using non-tobacco brand names (reverse brand stretching or brand sharing)
The law specifically prohibits the use of non-tobacco product logos and brands on tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand sharing.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law specifically prohibits the manufacture and sale of toys that are shaped like or look like tobacco products or whose purpose, effect, or possible effect is to encourage, incite, or facilitate the consumption of 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 specifically prohibits the manufacture and sale of sweets, snacks, and candy that are shaped like or look like tobacco products or whose purpose, effect, or possible effect is to encourage, incite, or facilitate the consumption of 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 tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes retailer incentive programs and payments or other consideration in exchange for exclusive sale or display.
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 specifically prohibits “product placement of tobacco or the appearance of tobacco products in film, on television, in movies or videos.” In addition, the law prohibits the placement of logos, brand, and elements of brands in games, video games, computer/tablet games, and cell phone games.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement.
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 specifically prohibits “the appearance of tobacco products in film, on television, in movies or videos.”
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to unpaid depiction.
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 all tobacco sponsorship. In addition, the law prohibits tobacco advertising via “alternative advertising media,” the definition of which includes “provision of financial support of another nature to events, activities, individuals or groups.” The law further prohibits “[a]ctions carried out under the guise of corporate social responsibility.” Together, these provisions prohibit all tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations, and governments.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco sponsorship.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
All contributions by the tobacco industry are prohibited. Therefore, 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 tobacco sponsorship.
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 contains a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Consequently, all forms of misleading promotion are likewise prohibited. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.
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.
