Many countries are opting for pictorial health warning on tobacco packages as it is known to be the most effective tobacco control measure in communicating and increasing awareness of the harmful effects of smoking among smokers and the public, especially among those with low literacy levels, exposure to tobacco smoke and they cost governments nothing. Pack-a-day smokers are potentially exposed to the warnings more than 7,000 times per year. Research evidence has demonstrated the benefits of this policy in reducing tobacco consumption.
All ASEAN countries, with the exception of Indonesia, have ratified the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), committing to implement strong tobacco control policies including more prominent and pictorial health warnings on tobacco products within three years under provision of FCTC Article 11 on packaging and labelling of tobacco products.
At present, 4 out of the 10 countries in the ASEAN region have implemented world’s best practice in pack warnings with pictures depicting the consequences of tobacco use that are rotated to ensure a selection of messages are effectively communicated to consumers. Singapore was among the first countries in the world to implement pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages in 2004, followed by Thailand (2005), Brunei (2008) and Malaysia (2009).
The deadlines for implementation of Article 11 for countries in the ASEAN region are as follows:
3-year Deadline after FCTC Ratification: Implementation Status of Article 11
|
Country |
Ratified FCTC |
Current Health Warnings |
|
Brunei |
3 June 2004 |
Pictorial |
|
Cambodia |
15 November 2005 |
Text Only |
|
Indonesia |
Not signed |
Text Only |
|
Lao PDR |
6 September 2006 |
Text Only |
|
Malaysia |
16 September 2005 |
Pictorial |
|
Myanmar |
21 April 2004 |
Text Only |
|
Philippines |
6 June 2005 |
Text Only |
|
Singapore |
14 May 2004 |
Pictorial |
|
Thailand |
8 November 2004 |
Pictorial |
|
Vietnam |
17 December 2004 |
Text Only |
At present, there is wide variability in implementation of health warnings in terms of the position, size, and general strength of these warnings across countries. Guidelines for implementation of Article 11 was developed and adopted at the Conference of the Parties (COP3) in November 2008. The guidelines aim to assist Parties in fulfilling their obligations and in implementing best practice for package warnings and labelling.
Read more about:
- WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
- Guidelines for implementation of WHO FCTC Article 11
Relate Publication:
Implementing Pictorial Health Warning in Malaysia
 |
Interference in Implementing Health Warnings in Cambodia
 |
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