Question & AnswerQ&A (DTI INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE- TOBACCO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 1)
The rules are referred to as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
These rules apply to all types of tobacco products placed into commerce in the Philippines, whether locally manufactured or imported.
A minor is defined as any person below eighteen (18) years old.
Smoking is prohibited in centers of youth activity such as schools and recreational facilities for persons under eighteen, elevators and stairwells, fire hazard locations, hospitals and medical facilities, public conveyances and facilities like terminals and restaurants except for designated smoking areas, and food preparation areas.
A fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (Php500.00) but not more than One thousand pesos (Php 1,000.00) shall be imposed.
Health warnings must be printed either in English or Filipino on tobacco packages on a rotating basis or separately and simultaneously, occupying certain percentages of side and front panels. They must be clearly legible, not obscured, and follow prescribed formats and fonts. Warnings include messages like "Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to Your Health" and others.
Tobacco advertising on television, cable television, and radio is prohibited between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, and beginning 1 January 2007, all tobacco advertising on these media is banned.
Absolutely not. Sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors is prohibited, as well as purchase or use by minors.
Retailers must verify the buyer's age with valid identification that contains a photograph and date of birth if there is doubt about the buyer’s age.
Outdoor advertisements must not be placed within 100 meters of schools or facilities frequented by persons under 18, must not exceed 70 square meters, are prohibited on public conveyances and their stations/terminals, and must be removed if non-compliant.
It serves as the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco), preparing compliance reports, prescribing report formats, and providing support services.
On the first offense, a fine of not less than Php5,000 or imprisonment of up to 30 days may be imposed. Subsequent offenses include both penalties and possible revocation of business licenses.
The minimum age is eighteen (18) years old to buy, sell, or use tobacco products.
No, advertisements shall not feature celebrities or contain endorsements, whether implied or express, by a celebrity.
No, promotions must only target persons at least eighteen years old, and participants must provide proof of age.