Sierra Leone

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” 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.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” 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.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” This is interpreted to include other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, and signs.

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.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” This is interpreted to include internet communications.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through internet communications.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion “by means of a publication, broadcast or other communication that originates outside Sierra Leone”. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion on international TV and radio is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion on international (cross-border) TV and radio.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion “by means of a publication, broadcast or other communication that originates outside Sierra Leone”. Therefore, tobacco advertising and promotion in international newspapers and magazines is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion in international (cross-border) newspapers and magazines.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” This is interpreted to include outdoor advertising, such as billboards and posters.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to outdoor tobacco advertising.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” There is no exception for point of sale advertising and promotion. Therefore, the law is interpreted as prohibiting 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 tobacco advertising and promotion.

The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products by means of a display that permits another person to handle the tobacco product. However, the law does not prohibit visibility of tobacco products, for example, behind the counter.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit point of sale product visibility, as well as self-service product display.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” Because advertising through conventional mail (the postal system) necessarily involves print material, the law is interpreted as prohibiting advertising through 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.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” 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.

The law prohibits the display of the name of a tobacco manufacturer or tobacco product on a facility, unless the facility is owned or leased by the tobacco manufacturer. The law also prohibits the display of any writing, picture, image, graphic, logo, or message that is associated with a tobacco product, brand, or manufacturer on a building, structure or place, or on goods and services. The prohibition on placing these marks on “services” is interpreted as prohibiting these marks on vehicles.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking on physical structures.

The law does not expressly prohibit the free distribution of tobacco products. However, the law prohibits tobacco advertising, and the definition of tobacco advertising includes communications aimed at the public that are designed to promote the use of tobacco or a tobacco product. This is interpreted as including, and thus prohibiting, the distribution of free samples 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.

The law prohibits promotions, without monetary consideration, including supplying an accessory with a tobacco product trademark, gifts, bonuses, cash rebates, or the right to participate in a game, lottery or promotion. Although the law is not worded clearly, the law is interpreted as prohibiting 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. To clarify the scope of the ban, the law should provide a definition of “tobacco advertising and promotion” that aligns with the definition provided in the FCTC.

The law prohibits tobacco sponsorship, which includes promoting a tobacco product by organizing a recreational or entertainment activity. This is interpreted as prohibiting competitions associated with tobacco products.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” Tobacco advertising is defined to include any “communication, representation or reference aimed at the public which is designed to promote or publicize tobacco or a tobacco product.” This is interpreted as including direct person to person targeting of individuals.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising and promotion through direct person-to-person targeting.

The law prohibits the display of a tobacco brand element on a non-tobacco product. The law also bans the sale or distribution of goods or services that contain “writing, picture, image graphic, logo, message, color or other matter that is commonly identified or associated with or is likely to be identified or associated with the trademark, brand name or manufacturer of tobacco a tobacco product.” Therefore, brand stretching is banned.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching.

The law prohibits the promotion of non-tobacco products bearing tobacco related brand names. Therefore, reverse brand stretching is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to reverse brand stretching.

The law prohibits the manufacture or 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.

The law prohibits the manufacture or sale of candy or other 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.

The law does not explicitly prohibit retailer incentive programs. Although the law generally bans tobacco advertising, the definition of tobacco advertising includes communications “aimed at the public”. Because retailer incentive programs are aimed at retailers, and not the public, it appears that retailer incentive programs are not prohibited. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Allowed” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit retailer incentive programs. In addition, the law should include a definition of tobacco advertising and promotion that aligns with the FCTC definition.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” Tobacco advertising is defined to include a “representation or reference aimed at the public which is designed to promote or publicize tobacco or a tobacco product or encourage its use.” This is interpreted as including paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, or other media.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media.

The law does not address unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in media. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products.

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 media that does not serve a legitimate purpose.

The law prohibits tobacco sponsorship of events and activities. However, the law does not address tobacco sponsorship of individuals, organizations, or government bodies (except those involved in tobacco control). Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all tobacco industry sponsorship, including tobacco industry sponsorship of individuals, organizations, and government bodies, as well as events and activities.

The law prohibits tobacco advertising “on electronic, print or other medium.” Therefore, publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry is banned.

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.

The law prohibits tobacco promotion by false, misleading or deceptive means, or in a manner that is likely to create an erroneous impression about the characteristics, health effects, health hazards, or social effects of tobacco or tobacco products. Misleading testimonials and endorsements are also prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to the promotion of tobacco products by false, misleading or deceptive means.