Malawi is not a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Smoke Free Places: There are no restrictions on smoking; smoking is allowed in indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and on public transport.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: There are no restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is allowed.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Tobacco product packaging and labeling is not regulated; health warnings and messages are not required.
Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Malawi are well below these recommendations.
| SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
|---|---|
| 
										Health-care facilities
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Private offices
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
										
									 | 
| 
										Primary and secondary schools
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Public transport
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
										
									 | 
| 
										Universities
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
										
									 | 
										Restaurants
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
										
									 | 
| 
										Governmental facilities
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Bars and Pubs
																																
											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
																																												Uncertain
																														 | |
| BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|
| 
										Domestic TV and radio
																																											
																															No
					
																							
										
									 | 
										Promotional discounts
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Domestic magazines and newspapers
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Outdoor advertising
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Point-of-sale advertising
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Paid placement in media
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Retail product display
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Internet advertising
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
										Publicity of sponsorships
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | 
| 
										Free distribution
																																											
																															No
					
																							
																			 | |
| HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
| 
										Text warnings describe health impacts
										
																												No
																					
									 | 
										Number of published warnings at any given time
										
																							0
																					
									 | 
| 
										Warnings include a picture or graphic
										
																							No
																					
									 | 
										Warnings required to rotate
										
																							Not Required
																					
									 | 
| 
										% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
																																
																																				0%
											
																			 | 
										Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
																																No
																			 | 
| 
										Front
										
																																			0%
																					
									 | 
																				Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
										
																																																No
																																	
									 | 
| 
										Back
										
																																			0%
																					
									 | 
										Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
										
																							No
																					
									 | 
| TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
|---|---|
| PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) | 
| 
										In country currency
										
																							900.00
												MGA
																					
									 | 
										Total taxes
										
																							48%
																					
									 | 
| 
										In US dollars
										
																							0.87
												USD
																					
									 | 
										Total excise
										
																							34%
																					
									 | 
Sources:
SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org
Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023. Available at: www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/tobacco-control/global-tobacco-report-2023
Last updated: May 31, 2019