Analysis
The law prescribes one text-only warning that is required on the front and back of “the pack, carton or other form of packaging of tobacco products.” The warning must cover 30% of the main surfaces.
A decree requires that the warning be printed in bold, black Helvetica characters, indelible and plainly legible, on a white background and in lower case, except for the first letter of the message, on the lower part of the pack, carton or any other form of packaging of tobacco products, parallel to the lower edge, all of it being included in a rectangle whose borders are black, with a thickness of at least 3 mm.
The law and decree meet the minimum requirements of FCTC Art. 11 in that the warnings occupy at least 30% of the two principal display areas of the package.
However, to fully align with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines, the law should require warnings be composed of pictures and text, include a variety of messages to be displayed at any given time, and require that the warnings rotate on a regular basis. In addition, the law should expressly require the warnings to appear at the top of the pack and on at least 50% of each main surface area.
