Venezuela

Health warnings are required on “packs and any other kind of packaging” of cigarettes. A “pack” is the “smallest unit of cigarettes produced for consumption” and, therefore, warnings are required on unit packaging and labeling.

The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings on unit packaging and labeling.

Health warnings are required on “packs and any other kind of packaging” of cigarettes. “Packaging” is defined as “packs, cartons, packages, cans and any other vessel for containing products for the consumer market.” Therefore, warnings are required on outside packaging and labeling.

The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings on outside packaging and labeling.

The law provides the text of the warnings as they must appear on packaging and this text is in Spanish, the principal language of Venezuela.

The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warnings being in the principal language of the country.

Resolution No. 004 of 2014 requires that, for hard cigarette packs, the text warning occupying 30% of one principal display area (front) of the package not be disrupted by opening the pack.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines in this respect.

The law does not address whether tax stamps or other required markings may be placed where they conceal warnings or messages.

To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should clearly state that tax stamps and other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal warnings and messages.

Resolution No. 004 of 2014 requires that 100% of the lateral surfaces of cigarette packs contain the following statements: “This product contains tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide, which are carcinogenic and toxic,” and, “There are no safe levels for the consumption of these substances.”

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to the display of qualitative constituent and emissions message.

Resolution No. 004 of 2014 prohibits the use of terms “and any other descriptive allusion to the levels of toxic products contained in cigarettes.” This is interpreted as prohibiting the display of figures for emissions.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines in this respect.

Plain packaging of tobacco products is not required. The FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines provide that Parties should consider adopting plain packaging measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colors, brand images, or other promotional information on packaging other than brand and product names displayed in a standard color and font style. Plain packaging aims to reduce the appeal of tobacco products, to increase the noticeability of health warnings, and to reduce the ability of the packaging of tobacco products to mislead consumers about the harmful effects of smoking.

Resolution No. 004 of 2014 prohibits the use on cigarettes packages of “terms such as the following is prohibited: class, level (low, ultra-low, mild, light, soft, easy, high and hard, among others) and any other descriptive allusion to the levels of toxic products contained in cigarettes and their risks to health.” This is interpreted as prohibiting all misleading terms, descriptors, trademarks, or figurative or other signs that directly or indirectly create a false impression that a tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products.

The law meets FCTC Art. 11 in this respect.