Cigarettes now required to carry graphic warning

The Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) has announced the start of the implementation of Republic Act No. 10643 or the Graphic Health Warning (GHW) Law in the Philippines.
In a statement sent to Davao City reporters yesterday, ASTF co-chair Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz said starting March 3, all tobacco products withdrawn from manufacturing facilities or imported for sale in the Philippines are required to carry the new GHWs.
Villareiz said the purpose of the GHW law is to have Graphic Health Warnings that effectively warn of “the devastating effects of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.”
She said the law will also remove misleading or deceptive numbers or descriptors like “low tar,” “light,” or “mild” which convey or tend to convey that a product or variant is healthier, less harmful, or safer.
“Tobacco use kills at least 10 Filipinos every hour and six million people globally each year. It is the number one preventable cause of heart disease, stroke, cancer, lung disease, and many other diseases,” Villareiz said in the statement
She said compared to text-only warnings, GHW images are more effective at conveying the truth about the harmful effects of tobacco use, discouraging initiation by young people, and encouraging tobacco cessation among current users.
She said all tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and other forms of smoked and smokeless tobacco, whether locally produced or imported into the Philippine market, should carry GHWs on their packaging.
“As set out in the GHW Law, the Department of Health has published a set of twelve (12) GHWs that depict some of the many health harms caused by tobacco use, such as mouth and throat cancer, stroke, emphysema, impotence, hand/foot gangrene, and low birth weight and preterm birth. Each picture is accompanied by a related text message in Filipino (on the front) and English (on the back),” she said.
Villareiz said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will ensure that excise tax stamps are not affixed on noncompliant packages.
The Department of Education (DepEd) will also use GHW templates to educate children on the ill effects of tobacco and will ensure that these are included in relevant subjects under the K-12 curriculum, she added.
The penalty for the manufacturers and importers will P500,000 for the first offense, P1 million for the second offense, and P2 million for the third offense or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, and business permits and licenses will be revoked or cancelled.
“For retailers, on the first offense, a fine of not more than P10,000. On the second offense, a fine of not more than P50,000. On the third offense, a fine of not more than P100,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, and business permits and licenses shall be revoked or cancelled,” she said. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.