Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
The law specifically requires health warnings on “packaging units . . . notably packs and cartons.” This provision meets FCTC Art. 11.
The law specifically requires health warnings on “packaging units . . . notably packs and cartons.” This provision meets FCTC Art. 11.
The law and a decree specify the health warnings are required to be in French, Ewe, and Kabye, which include the principal language of Togo. This provision meets FCTC Art. 11.
A decree prohibits the health warnings from being covered, obscured, or separated by the opening of the pack. This provision aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines.
A decree prohibits the health warnings from being covered or obscured by any other statements or images including tax stamps and other required information. This provision aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines.
A decree requires that two quantitative constituents and emissions statements are displayed on the sides of the packaging where the health warnings are not displayed. In French, these statements are as follows: “Cigarette smoke contains benzene, a well-known carcinogen” and “When you smoke, you expose yourself to more than 60 chemical products that can cause cancer.” This provision aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines.
A decree prohibits the display of quantitative yield information regarding tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide. This provision aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines.
Although a decree contains provisions requiring standardized packaging of tobacco products, those requirements are not currently being enforced. The FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines provide that Parties should consider adopting plain packaging measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colors, brand images, or other promotional information on packaging other than brand and product names displayed in a standard color and font style. Plain packaging aims to reduce the appeal of tobacco products, to increase the noticeability of health warnings, and to reduce the ability of the packaging of tobacco products to mislead consumers about the harmful effects of smoking.
The Tobacco Control Law prohibits the use of “terms such as ‘low in tar,’ ‘light,’ ‘ultralight,’ ‘mild,’ or any other term of a character that would encourage the consumption of tobacco and its derivative products, in any language.” However, the law does not prohibit trademarks or figurative or other signs (e.g., logos, colors, brand images) that directly or indirectly create a false impression that a tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products. To meet FCTC Art. 11, the law should prohibit these types of misleading indicia on all tobacco packaging and labeling.