Last updated: May 5, 2025
Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Health warnings required on unit packaging (e.g., packs)
The regulations require health warnings on all tobacco product packages sold at retail, including unit packages and cartons.
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11 with regard to warning requirements on unit packaging.
Health warnings required on outside packaging and labeling (e.g., cartons)
The regulations require health warnings on all tobacco product packages sold at retail, including unit packages and cartons.
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11 with regard to warning requirements on outside packaging.
Health warning text must be in the principal language(s) of the country
The regulations require health warnings to be displayed in both English and French.
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11 with regard to warning texts being in the principal languages of the country.
A requirement that warnings or messages may not be placed where they may be permanently damaged or concealed when opening the pack
The regulations require that the health warnings be placed in a manner such that the words are not severed or otherwise damaged upon opening the package. However, a health warning can be severed and two lines of text within the warning can be severed temporarily when the package is opened in the customary method if the integrity is restored when the package is closed and no letters, numerals, or characters are severed.
This provision aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines.
A requirement that tax stamps or other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages
The Stamping and Marking of Tobacco Products Regulations state that tax stamps should be placed “in a manner that does not obstruct any information that is required by or under an Act of Parliament to appear on the package.” Health warnings are required under an Act of Parliament and, therefore, tax stamps may not be placed where they may conceal or obscure health warnings.
In addition, the Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations prohibit any component of a labeling element from being “concealed, except partially” by an excise stamp. By definition, a “labelling element” includes health warnings, health information messages, and toxicity information. However, the regulations limit the extent to which a stamp may partially cover a labeling element, permitting a labeling element to be obscured only “to the least extent possible and to a maximum surface area of 180mm2” and requiring the labeling element “be adapted in accordance with section 115 in such a manner that none of the components of the labelling element nor the attribution is entirely concealed by the tobacco excise stamp.” This is interpreted as providing sufficient protection to ensure the visibility of the health warnings.
Accordingly, the law aligns with the requirements of FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to placement of excise stamps on tobacco product packaging.
A requirement to display qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages
All tobacco product packages must display toxicity information. The location and size of the toxicity information vary depending on the package type. For packages with a rectangular cuboid shape in a slide and shell format, for instance, the information must occupy one full side panel. The information must appear in both English and French.
Similar to health warnings, toxicity information must rotate. In the case of cigarettes, little cigars, cigarette tobacco, and tubes, prescribed toxicity information must rotate every 24 months. (The first set of warnings will be in rotation until July 31, 2026.) In the case of any other type of tobacco product, prescribed toxicity information must rotate every 36 months. Prescribed information within each set must be used, to the extent possible, on an equal number of each type of package of each brand name over the course of a year. The following indicates the number of toxicity information messages issued for each product type:
- Cigarettes: 6
- Little cigars, cigarette tobacco, tubes: 6
- Cigars, pipe tobacco, and waterpipe tobacco: 4
- Chewing tobacco and snuff: 4
- Other tobacco products: 4
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to a requirement to display qualitative constituents and emissions information.
Prohibition on the display of figures for emission yields (including tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide)
The law does not affirmatively prohibit the display of figures for emission yields.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should prohibit the display of figures for emission yields as these figures can be misleading to consumers.
Plain or standardized packaging
As of February 7, 2020, plain packaging of all tobacco products is required.
Cigarette packaging must be in a standard shape and color (i.e., drab brown). Only prescribed information may appear on product packaging, including brand name. The law further provides for the appearance of this information, requiring such items as standardized font, font sizes, colors, and placement. Other tobacco product packaging is standardized as well. Packages additionally may not be capable of emitting a scent or sound.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to plain packaging.
Prohibition on misleading tobacco packaging & labeling including terms, descriptors, trademarks, figurative or other signs (logos, colors, images that directly create a false impression that a tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products)
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act prohibits promotion of tobacco products “by any means, including by means of the tobacco product packaging, that are false, misleading or deceptive or that are likely to create an erroneous impression about the characteristics, health effects or health hazards of the tobacco product or its emissions.” In addition, regulations issued under the Act prohibit the use of the terms “light” or “mild” and any variations thereof, including the addition of any modifiers to those terms, such as “extra” or “ultra”, on product packaging.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to a prohibition on misleading packaging and labeling.
