Last updated: September 14, 2022

Health Warnings/Messages Features

Type of product: Smoked Tobacco Products
Type of Warnings / Messages Required
Pictures (Photos), Text Warnings/Messages
Location and Size of Warnings / Messages on Unit Packaging
50% of Front, 50% of Back, Side(s)
Rotation
Required
Number of Warnings / Messages Authorized to Be Displayed on Front / Back at Any Given Time
8
Length of Rotation Period
Unspecified
Analysis

Law No. 1280 requires health warnings consisting of images and warning phrases to be displayed on at least 60% of the main surfaces (front and back). Under the transitory provisions, manufacturers will have up to one year from publication of the new health warnings to comply with the requirements in the law.

Until the health warnings under Law No. 1280 are in effect, combined picture and text health warnings are required to be displayed on at least 50% of the front and back surfaces. The warnings prescribed for a given period are to be displayed simultaneously in similar proportions. Currently, there are eight health warnings in rotation.

Specific Regulation for the Administration of Law No. 3029 requires that the following qualitative constituents and emissions phrase be printed on one lateral side of tobacco product packaging: “The smoke of each cigarette you smoke contains, among other toxins, tar, which is carcinogenic; nicotine, an addictive substance; carbon monoxide, a toxic gas found in car exhaust fumes; arsenic, a chemical used in rat poison.” Pursuant to Law No. 1280, until regulations are approved under Law No. 1280, Supreme Decree No. 29376 and its implementing instruments are to remain in force so long as they are not contrary to Law No. 1280. 

The law meets FCTC Art. 11 and aligns with the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to size, location, and rotation of health warnings on packages of smoked tobacco products.

Type of product: Smokeless Tobacco Products
Type of Warnings / Messages Required
Not Required
Location and Size of Warnings / Messages on Unit Packaging
Rotation
Not Required
Number of Warnings / Messages Authorized to Be Displayed on Front / Back at Any Given Time
0
Length of Rotation Period
Not Applicable
Analysis

Law No. 1280 requires health warnings consisting of images and warning phrases to be displayed on at least 60% of the main surfaces (front and back). Under the transitory provisions, manufacturers will have up to one year from publication of the new health warnings to comply with the requirements in the law.

Until the health warnings under Law No. 1280 are in effect, the requirements under Supreme Decree No. 29376 and implementing instruments remain in effect. However, under these instruments, health warnings are prescribed for packs of cigarettes, cigar boxes, and bags of pipe tobacco. There are no warnings prescribed for smokeless tobacco products.

When Law No. 1280 is in effect, the law will meet FCTC Art. 11 and will align with the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to size, location, and rotation of health warnings on packages of smokeless tobacco products. To more fully align, the contents of the warnings to appear on smokeless tobacco products should pertain to the health effects of smokeless tobacco.