Lebanon

Lebanon became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on March 7, 2006.

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in nearly all enclosed public places, enclosed workplaces, and public transport. However, the law allows hotels to designate 20 percent of their room capacity as smoking rooms. Outdoor areas of health, education, and sports facilities must also be smoke free.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

There is a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Tobacco product packaging must carry text-only health warnings on 40 percent of the front and back of the package. Rotation is required. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light” and “low tar”, is prohibited.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law does not grant the authority to regulate the contents of cigarettes. The law does not require that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents and emissions of their products.

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products via vending machine and in schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, nightclubs and enclosed places. The law also prohibits the sale of small packets of cigarettes. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-Cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed subject to restrictions under the law. Because e-cigarettes fall under the definition of “tobacco alternatives” in Law No. 174, e-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products in many important ways – including restrictions on use in indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and public transport; restrictions advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and minimum sales age of 18. 

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Law No. 174, Tobacco Control and Regulation of Tobacco Products’ Manufacturing, Packaging and Advertising, regulates smoking in public places, workplaces and public transport; tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and tobacco packaging and labeling. This law replaces Law No. 394/95 and Ministerial Decision No. 1/213. Smoke free provisions went into effect immediately for all public places, workplaces and public transport, except those for restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and other tourism venues, which went into effect one year later. The law introduced a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, which entered into force on March 1, 2012. The law increased the size of warning labels to 40 percent. The contents of the text-only health warnings were issued in Decree No. 8991, which was scheduled to enter into force in October 2013, though implementation was delayed. The packaging and labeling provisions of Law No. 174 also entered in force at that time. Decree No. 7437 was issued in January 2012 and established by-laws addressing signs at points of sale. Decree No. 8431 was issued in July 2012 and regulates the posting of "No Smoking" signs in smoke free places.

E-cigarettes were originally banned under Ministry of Public Health Decision No. 1/207. However, that ban was repealed in October 2015 when the Minister of Finance issued Resolution No. 877/2015, which legalized the sale and import of e-cigarettes and e-waterpipes. 

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts.