As part of continuing efforts to promote healthy living and discourage tobacco consumption, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill on 11 February 2019.

Article 5.3 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) states that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”. In this context, Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority has adopted specific policies to regulate governmental official communications with the tobacco industry, including tobacco manufacturers, wholesale distributors and importers of tobacco products.

The law No 7151 on healthcare, amending some sections of the country’s 1996 tobacco control act (No 4207), was officially gazetted and entered into force on 5 December 2018. The amendments require the tobacco packs to be in uniform design, with specific requirements on brand typeface, font size, color and warning messages. The brand name can only be displayed on one side without any logo or symbol. Surface covered by pictorial and text health warnings will be increased from 65% to 85%.