Last updated: September 21, 2020
Other Packaging and Labeling Requirements
Warning requirements on unit packaging and labeling (e.g., packs)
The Law on Tobacco Control and Ministry of Health Agreement No. 1067 require health warnings on unit packaging of cigarettes. However, the law does not require health warnings on unit packaging of other types of tobacco products.
To fully meet FCTC Art. 11, the law should require health warnings on all unit packaging of tobacco products, not just cigarettes.
Warning/messages required on outside packaging and labeling (e.g., cartons)
The Law on Tobacco Control and Ministry of Health Agreement No. 1067 require health warnings on outside packaging of cigarettes. However, the law does not require health warnings on outside packaging of other types of tobacco products.
To fully meet FCTC Art. 11, the law should require health warnings on all outside packaging of tobacco products, not just cigarettes.
Warning texts must be in the principal language(s) of the country
Ministry of Health Agreement No. 1067, which implements the Law on Tobacco Control, sets out the warnings as they must appear on tobacco product packaging. The warnings are in Lao, the principal language of the country.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to warning text being in the principal language 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 law does not contain a requirement that warnings or messages not be placed where they may be permanently damaged or concealed when opening the pack.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should require that warnings or messages not be placed where they may be permanently damaged or concealed when opening the pack.
A requirement that tax stamps or other required markings may not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages
The law does not contain a requirement that tax stamps or other required markings not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should require that tax stamps or other required markings not be placed where they may conceal warnings or messages.
A requirement to display qualitative (descriptive) constituents and emissions messages
The law requires one of nine authorized qualitative constituent and emissions message to occupy 75% of two side panels of tobacco product packages. The two side panels must display different messages.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to the display of qualitative constituents and emissions messages.
Prohibition on the display of figures for emission yields (including tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide)
The law prohibits "any statements upon tobacco packaging materials that may cause consumers to misunderstand the characteristics and effects of tobacco on human health, such as: Mild, Medium, Light, Ultra-Light, Ultra-Mild, or Low Tar. Any statements or symbols that might be misunderstood in a similar way are also forbidden, such as: Menthol, Fruit, [one word unknown], etc." Because "symbols" are also forbidden, this provision could be interpreted as prohibiting figures for emission yields. However, because the law does not specifically prohibit figures, the regulatory status "Uncertain" is given.
To align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11, the law should make clear the display of figures for emissions yields is prohibited.
Plain or standardized packaging
Plain packaging of tobacco products is not required. 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.
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)
Ministry of Health Agreement No. 1067 prohibits "any statements upon tobacco packaging materials that may cause consumers to misunderstand the characteristics and effects of tobacco on human health, such as: Mild, Medium, Light, Ultra-Light, Ultra-Mild, or Low Tar. Any statements or symbols that might be misunderstood in a similar way are also forbidden, such as: Menthol, Fruit, [one word unknown], etc." In addition, the Law on Tobacco Control prohibits the tobacco industry from "mislead[ing] tobacco users on characteristics of tobacco products, such as trademarks, forms, colors or other logos." Therefore, all misleading tobacco product packaging and labeling is prohibited.
The law meets FCTC Art. 11 with respect to a prohibition on misleading packaging and labeling.
