Last updated: January 23, 2023
Regulated Forms of Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Domestic TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through radio and television.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to domestic TV, radio, and other broadcast media (e.g., satellite, cable).
Domestic newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through newspapers and magazines.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to domestic newspapers and magazines.
Other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, signs (not including print advertising at the point of sale)
Other domestic print media, such as pamphlets, leaflet, flyers, posters, signs (not including print advertising at the point of sale)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through brochures, leaflets, flyers, bulletins, letters, posters, and signs.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to other domestic print media.
International TV and radio (including all broadcast media such as satellite and cable)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through terrestrial and satellite TV and radio.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to international TV and radio.
International newspapers and magazines
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through newspapers and magazines. Although the law does not specifically address cross-border newspapers and magazines, the comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is interpreted as covering both domestic and international newspapers and magazines.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to international newspapers and magazines.
Internet communications
Internet communications (not sales)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through internet communications.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to internet advertising.
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through outdoor advertising.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to outdoor advertising.
Point of sale advertising/promotion
Point of sale advertising/promotion (other than product displays)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through posters, signs, and flyers. Information about tobacco products available for sale is limited to the product’s name and price, written in black print on a white background, and must not include written or visual information that might make it possible or lead the consumer to think that one of the products or brands represents less risk to consumers. Taken together, these provisions prohibit tobacco advertising at points of sale.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point-of-sale advertising.
Point of sale product display
The law prohibits both the direct and indirect display of tobacco products at points of sale.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point-of-sale product display.
Conventional mail
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through postal mail.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to conventional mail.
Telephone and cellular phone
The law prohibits "any form" of tobacco advertising and promotion. Although telephone and cellular phone are not specifically mentioned, the comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is interpreted as covering advertising in this form as well.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to telephone and cellular phone.
Brand marking on physical structures
Distinctive words, designs, images, logos, sounds, or colors to promote tobacco products in entertainment venues, retail outlets, on vehicles and equipment, or other physical structures (brand marking on physical structures, other than on tobacco product packaging and labeling and print material)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through marking of brand elements on vehicles, tables, chairs, awnings, canvases, and umbrellas.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking.
Free distribution of tobacco products
The law specifically prohibits distribution of free tobacco products.
This provision meets FCTC Art. 16 (sales to minors) and aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines.
Promotions with a tobacco product purchase
Promotional discounts, gifts, prizes, rewards to consumers in conjunction with a tobacco product purchase (e.g., buy one pack, get one free or, key chains, t-shirts, coupons, points)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through lotteries, raffles, and discounts. In addition, the law specifically prohibits the use of incentives to promote the purchase of tobacco products. The definition of “publicity and promotion of tobacco products” includes discounts, incentives, and rebates.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in this respect.
Competitions associated with tobacco products
Competitions associated with tobacco products or brand names, whether requiring the purchase of a tobacco product or not
The law prohibits the promotion of tobacco products, brands, or manufacturers through contests, lotteries, and raffles. In addition, the law specifically prohibits the use of incentives to promote the purchase of tobacco products, and this is interpreted to include competitions associated with tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products or brand names.
Direct person to person targeting of individuals
The law prohibits "any form" of tobacco advertising and promotion, and "promotion and publicity of tobacco products" is defined broadly to include all types of communication, recommendation, and commercial action with the purpose or effect of promoting tobacco products. Although direct person-to-person targeting is not specifically mentioned, the comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is interpreted as covering advertising in this form as well.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to person-to-person marketing.
Brand stretching/trademark diversification
Non-tobacco products or services using tobacco brand names or carrying a brand logo or other brand indicia (brand stretching)
The law specifically prohibits promotion through any non-tobacco product that contains some of the brand elements or any type of design or auditory sign that identifies it with tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching.
Reverse brand stretching or brand sharing
Tobacco products or services using non-tobacco brand names (reverse brand stretching or brand sharing)
The law prohibits "any form" of tobacco advertising and promotion. Although reverse brand stretching is not specifically mentioned, the comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is interpreted as covering advertising in this form as well.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to reverse brand stretching.
Toys that resemble tobacco products
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through the sale of toys that resemble a tobacco product.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to toys that resemble tobacco products.
Candy that resembles tobacco products
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through candy that resembles tobacco products.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to candy that resembles tobacco products.
Retailer incentive programs
Retailer incentive programs (e.g., rewards to retailers for achieving certain sales volume, enhanced displays, etc.) or other payments to encourage them to sell tobacco products
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including through loyalty or reward programs.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to retailer incentive programs.
Paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film or other media
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion, including "paid advertisements . . . in any means of communication or diffusion" and radio, cinema, television, theater, live shows, and cinematographic films.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products.
Unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in media that does not serve a legitimate purpose
Unpaid depiction of tobacco use or tobacco products in TV, film or other media that is not legitimate journalistic, artistic, or academic expression or legitimate social or political commentary
The law prohibits "any form" of tobacco advertising and promotion, and "promotion and publicity of tobacco products" is defined broadly to include all types of communication, recommendation, and commercial action with the purpose or effect of promoting tobacco products. Although unpaid depiction is not specifically mentioned, the comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is interpreted as covering promotion in this form as well.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to unpaid depiction.
Tobacco industry sponsorship of events, activities, individuals, organizations or governments
Financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry to events, activities, individuals or groups (e.g., groups involved in sports, the arts, politics, charitable or welfare, or other activities, or youth smoking prevention programs)
The law prohibits carrying out any form of sponsorship of tobacco products, with "sponsorship" defined as “all ways of contributing to any act, activity, or individual with the goal or effect of promoting tobacco products and consumption of tobacco.” In addition, the law prohibits public institutions and public servants from participation, association, or acceptance of corporate social responsibility activities.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco industry sponsorship.
Publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support by the tobacco industry if tobacco sponsorship is not banned
The law prohibits carrying out any form of sponsorship of tobacco products, with "sponsorship" defined as “all ways of contributing to any act, activity, or individual with the goal or effect of promoting tobacco products and consumption of tobacco.” In addition, the law prohibits public institutions and public servants from participation, association, or acceptance of corporate social responsibility activities. As a result, there can be no publicity of sponsorship.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco sponsorship and publicity thereof.
Promotion by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive
Promotion by any means that are false, misleading or deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about a product's characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions (covering any term, descriptor, trademark, emblem, marketing image, logo, color and figurative, or any other indicia)
The law prohibits tobacco advertising and promotion. Therefore, there can be no promotion by means that are false, misleading, or deceptive.
The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in this respect.
