Information

November 1996

International tobacco control

Access

According to the World Health Organization, in the early 1990s, about 25 countries had laws that prohibited the sale of cigarettes to minors, with the age of prohibition ranging from 16 to 21 years of age. Related measures often include bans or restrictions on cigarette sales from vending machines, prohibitions on sales of tobacco products and smoking in schools, prohibiting the offering of free samples of tobacco products and prohibiting the sale of single cigarettes.

Labelling and Packaging

Health warning messages, mostly attributed to a health authority, appear on cigarette packs in nearly every country in the world. In most countries, these messages are placed voluntarily by manufacturers and appear in small print, generally on the side of the package. In a number of countries, these messages are required by law but also appear on the side of the package in small print. Only a few countries have messages that appear on the front of the package and even fewer have large bold health warning messages.

Only a very small number of countries, including Canada, require manufacturers to print deliveries of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide on their packaging.

Product Regulation

Product regulation measures are largely the purview of developed countries. Over half of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries have some measures of this kind. For instance, at least fourteen countries have set maximum levels for at least one toxic constituent of tobacco, e.g. tar.

Tobacco Product Promotion

United States

In August 1996, President Clinton announced the Food and Drug Administration's Rule on tobacco and children which will limit advertising in youth publications to black and white only and will ban billboards near schools. Other billboards and point-of-sale advertising will be limited to black and white only. Sale or distribution of tobacco-branded merchandise will be prohibited. Brand name sponsorship of events will be banned. Free samples will be banned and ads for contests, for those over 18 only, will be limited to black text on white.

Mexico/Latin America

Some advertising restrictions were introduced in Mexico and Latin America in 1991. Various advertising and packaging restrictions exist in Argentina (1986), Brazil (1990, 1994), Peru (1993), Venezuela (banned from TV, 1981), Chile (warnings broadcast with TV ads, 1981) and Costa Rica (1990).

United Kingdom

By Voluntary Agreement between the UK Health Department and the tobacco industry, tobacco ads do not appear on TV or at retail premises (by end of 1996). Sponsorship is permitted, but cigarette brand name appearances at events must be accompanied by the attributed warning: "Smoking Kills".

France

Since January 1993, France has had a ban on all forms of direct, indirect and sponsorship advertising except at point of sale. Advertising at retail is regulated as to size, number and display of warnings.

Germany

Advertising on radio and television is banned. In other media, there are bans on promotions which: 1) suggest that tobacco products are natural or pure; 2) promote inhalation of tobacco smoke; 3) creates the impression that tobacco use is harmless to health; or 4) induce young people to smoke. Voluntary restrictions apply to outdoor advertising near schools, in magazines and in sports centres and to the distribution of free samples.

Nordic Countries

Norway (1975), Sweden and Iceland ban all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion: TV, magazines (except foreign), billboards and posters, retail and sponsorship (except international events which are broadcast). Multiple rotating warnings are required on cigarette packs. The regime in Finland is similar.

Australia/New Zealand

Replaced a Voluntary Agreement approach with complete advertising bans (1988 through 1995) still coming fully into effect while being contested in court. Ministerial discretion permits tobacco sponsorship at "international events".