Last updated: December 8, 2020
Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Warning requirements on unit packaging and labeling (e.g., packs)
SFDA.FD 60:2018 requires that a health warning occupy 65% of the front and back of unit packets.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 in this respect.
Warning/messages required on outside packaging and labeling (e.g., cartons)
SFDA.FD 60:2018 requires that a health warning occupy 65% of the front and back of container packets. "Container packet" is defined to include both a single product container and a set of unit packets.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 in this respect.
Warning texts must be in the principal language(s) of the country
SFDA.FD 60:2018 requires that health warnings be printed in Arabic or English, as approved by the National Tobacco Control Committee or the GCC Tobacco Control Committee. The health warnings issued by National Tobacco Control Committee are in Arabic.
Therefore, the law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to the warning text being in the principal language(s) 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
SFDA.FD 60:2018 requires that warnings be printed in such a way that they are "permanent, irremovable in all states on the container, including when the container is in its closed state and after opening it."
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines in this respect.
A requirement that tax stamps or other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages
SFDA.FD 60:2018 requires that warnings be printed in such a way that they are not hidden or scattered by a wrapper, cover, box, price tag, seal, or any other marking.
Therefore, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to tax stamps or other required markings not being placed where they may conceal warnings or messages.
A requirement to display qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages
A scientific fact/information message is required to cover 50% of one side panel. The message must read (in Arabic): Smoke contains more than 70 carcinogens.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to qualitative constituents and emissions messages.
Prohibition on the display of figures for emission yields (including tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide)
SFDA.FD 60:2018 specifically prohibits product packaging from containing any information about the amounts of nicotine, tar, or carbon monoxide.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting the display of figures for levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide.
Plain or standardized packaging
Pursuant to SFDA.FD 60:2018 – the Standard on Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products, plain packaging is required for cigarettes, cigars, hand rolling tobacco, and tobacco molasses (waterpipe tobacco) as of January 1, 2020. (Plain packaging was required at the manufacturer level beginning August 23, 2019. Products imported prior to that date were permitted to be distributed until January 1, 2020.)
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)
SFDA.FD 60:2018 prohibits product packaging from containing "suggestions about [the product's] qualities, health effects, dangers, or emissions" and "suggestions that the product is less dangerous compared to other products [or] that the product aims at reducing the harmful effects of smoking."
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to misleading tobacco product packaging and labeling.
