Last updated: February 19, 2022
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 in any form including on television and radio.
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 tobacco advertising in any form including in printed media such as newspapers and magazines.
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 tobacco advertising in any form including in printed media.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to other printed media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits any form of advertising and promotion of tobacco products initiated in the territory of the Republic of Moldova and having a cross-border effect. The law also defines cross-border advertising of tobacco products as acts that originate within Moldova and enter other countries, as well as advertising acts that originate in other countries and enter Moldova. Read together, the law is interpreted as prohibiting international TV and radio advertising of tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion via international TV and radio and other international broadcast media (e.g., satellite, cable).
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits any form of advertising and promotion of tobacco products initiated in the territory of the Republic of Moldova and having a cross-border effect. The law also defines cross-border advertising of tobacco products as acts that originate within Moldova and enter other countries, as well as advertising acts that originate in other countries and enter Moldova. Read together, the law is interpreted as prohibiting international newspapers and magazines advertising tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion via international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising in any form including over the internet.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to advertising via the internet.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising in any including printed media. The law further specifies that outdoor advertising is prohibited. Therefore, the law prohibits outdoor advertising on billboards and posters.
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 tobacco advertising in any form including advertising outside and inside wholesale and retail outlets that sell tobacco products. Therefore, the law prohibits point of sale advertising and promotion.
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 prohibits point of sale product display, permitting only a list of tobacco and related products available for sale to be printed with black lettering on white paper to be presented by the seller upon request from an adult buyer.
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 tobacco advertising in any form, including 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 in any form, including via telephone.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to advertising via telephone.
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 in any form. The law provides a limited exception allowing trademark or logo of a tobacco product to be placed in the main headquarters of a tobacco manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler of tobacco products as well as on promotional material intended exclusively for distribution to those in the tobacco industry. Taken together, it is inferred that brand marking on anything other than internal tobacco industry buildings and documents is prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to advertising via 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 the requirements of FCTC Art. 16 with respect to prohibiting 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 promotion in any form. Tobacco promotion is broadly defined to include any commercial action with the aim, or direct or indirect effect, of promoting sales and increasing the consumption of tobacco products. Promotional discounts, gifts, and prizes in conjunction with a tobacco product purchase have the aim and likely effect of increasing tobacco consumption. Therefore, such actions are prohibited under the general ban on tobacco promotion.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotional discounts, gifts, and prizes to consumers in conjunction 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 tobacco advertising and promotion in any form. Tobacco promotion is broadly defined to include any commercial action with the aim, or direct or indirect effect, of promoting sales and increasing the consumption of tobacco products. Competitions associated with tobacco products have the aim and likely effect of increasing tobacco consumption. Therefore, such actions are prohibited under the general ban on tobacco promotion.
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 forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Tobacco advertising and promotion is broadly defined to include any commercial action with the aim, or direct or indirect effect, of promoting sales and increasing the consumption of tobacco products. Direct person to person advertising has the aim and likely effect of increasing tobacco consumption. Therefore, such actions are prohibited under the general ban on tobacco promotion.
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 prohibits the use of trademarks of tobacco products to promote other services or the use of trademarks of other products and services to promote 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 prohibits the use of other trademarks to promote tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to reverse brand stretching.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law prohibits the sale of toys that resemble 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 prohibits the sale of food 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.
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 promotion in any form and some forms of tobacco sponsorship. “Promotion of tobacco products” is broadly defined to include any commercial action with the aim, or direct or indirect effect, of promoting sales and increasing the consumption of tobacco products. The prohibition of tobacco sponsorship includes any public or commercial actions or initiatives where the trademark or name of the tobacco product becomes visible, as well as any voluntary contribution offered or made by representatives of the tobacco industry with the aim of promoting corporate image.
Retailer incentive programs have the aim and likely effect of increasing tobacco consumption, and promote the corporate image of tobacco companies. Therefore, such actions are prohibited under the general ban on tobacco promotion.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to direct retailer incentive programs.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion in any form and some forms of tobacco sponsorship. “Promotion of tobacco products” is broadly defined to include any commercial action with the aim, or direct or indirect effect, of promoting sales and increasing the consumption of tobacco products. Tobacco sponsorship includes any contribution to any event, activity, or individual person with the aim or effect of promoting sales or consumption of tobacco products.
Paid placement of tobacco products in the media have the aim and likely effect of increasing tobacco consumption, and promote the corporate image of tobacco companies. Therefore, such actions are prohibited.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products on TV, film, or 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 does not address unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film, or other media. The definition of tobacco advertising encompasses “commercial” actions only. Because unpaid depiction is not “commercial,” the law is not interpreted as prohibiting unpaid depiction.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should specifically address unpaid depiction in accordance with FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines paras. 29-32.
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 promotion, including through sponsorship or support in any other form of public or commercial actions or initiatives. However, the law permits tobacco sponsorship or charitable activities so long as the name of the economic operator, the trademark of the tobacco product, or any other reference to brand names of tobacco products, related products, devices, and accessories for their use, recharging, or heating are not visible and no other information regarding the connection of the economic operator to the event becomes advertising.
To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all forms of tobacco sponsorship.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
Although the law permits some contributions by the tobacco industry, it is prohibited to show the name of the economic operator, the trademark of the tobacco product, or any other reference to brand names of tobacco products, related products, devices, and accessories for their use, recharging, or heating. In addition, no other information regarding the connection of the economic operator to the event may become advertising. Therefore, all publicity of tobacco sponsorship is prohibited.
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 prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion and some forms of sponsorship. Additionally, the law specifically prohibits any activity that misleads or creates an erroneous impression about the characteristics of tobacco products and their impact on health. The law similarly prohibits any misleading information or descriptors from appearing on tobacco packaging.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotion by false or misleading means.
