Mauritania became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on January 26, 2006.
Smoke Free Places: The law prohibits smoking in all indoor public places and public transport without exception, but does not explicitly prohibit smoking in workplaces.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: The law broadly bans tobacco advertising and promotion, but does not explicitly address international channels or prohibit point of sale product display. Although sponsorship by the tobacco industry is not completely prohibited, publicity of the sponsorship is prohibited.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: All tobacco product packages must display rotating combined pictorial and text health warnings on at least 70 percent of the front and back surfaces. Misleading packaging and labeling, which could include terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.
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 Mauritania are well below these recommendations.
| SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
|---|---|
|
Health-care facilities
Yes
|
Private offices
Uncertain
|
|
Primary and secondary schools
Yes
|
Public transport
Yes
|
|
Universities
Yes
|
Restaurants
Yes
|
|
Governmental facilities
Yes
|
Bars and Pubs
Yes
|
|
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
Uncertain
|
|
| BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|
|
Domestic TV and radio
Yes
|
Promotional discounts
Yes
|
|
Domestic magazines and newspapers
Yes
|
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising
Yes
|
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Point-of-sale advertising
Yes
|
Paid placement in media
Yes
|
|
Retail product display
No
|
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
Yes
|
|
Internet advertising
Yes
|
Publicity of sponsorships
Yes
|
|
Free distribution
Yes
|
|
| HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
|
Text warnings describe health impacts
Uncertain
|
Number of published warnings at any given time
2
|
|
Warnings include a picture or graphic
Yes
|
Warnings required to rotate
Required
|
|
% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
70%
|
Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
Yes
|
|
Front
70%
|
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
Yes
|
|
Back
70%
|
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
Yes
|
| TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
|---|---|
| PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) |
|
In country currency
40.00
MRU
|
Total taxes
18%
|
|
In US dollars
1.10
USD
|
Total excise
7%
|
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: March 12, 2021