Nepal: Health warnings cover all tobacco packages in plain packaging

Starting August 17, 2025, 100 % of tobacco packaging space in Nepal will be dedicated to health warning messages and visuals, according to new government guidelines.[1]This change marks an evolution from the previous regulation, which required 90 % coverage of the surface. The Nepalese government is also considering introducing plain packaging.

New regulations require 100 % packaging to be covered with warnings

The Ministry of Health and Population has officially approved the 2024 guidelines for printing warnings on tobacco packs, cartons, packaging, and crates. According to this directive, 80 % of the front and back of products (cigarettes, khaini, gutkha, bidis, etc.) must display color visuals representing the serious consequences of tobacco use: oral cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, etc. The remaining 20 % will be reserved for the written message combined with the visual, such as "Consumption of tobacco products is harmful to health" in Nepali.[2].

These measures are part of a broader effort to reduce smoking rates through deterrent and compelling visuals. Nepal is already recognized as one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to health warnings on tobacco products. The stakes for tobacco control policies in the country are high, with 28.1% of men and 5.1% of women using tobacco, according to the latest report of the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.

Plain packaging is also being considered

To strengthen this fight, the government is also considering the introduction of plain packaging. This measure would remove all advertising references to the brand, whether it be its logo, distinctive colors, or typography. Only the brand name would be retained, affixed in a standardized manner, in packaging exclusively dedicated to mandatory health warnings.

According to Dr. Bhakta Bahadur KC, information officer at the Ministry of Health, companies continue to misuse the 20 % text area currently available on packaging for marketing purposes. The introduction of completely plain packaging, without any distinctive signs, is therefore part of this approach to prevent the use of packaging as an advertising medium and to highlight warnings. He also specifies that all packaging must be printed in Pantone 448 C, considered the most repulsive color in the world, in order to make products visually unappealing.

Countries such as Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Turkey have already adopted this measure.

Towards legislative reform to regulate new systems

To implement plain packaging, an amendment to the Tobacco Products Act 2011 is being prepared. A task force, headed by Rishiraj Acharya, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, and comprising representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Justice, and Industry, has been formed for this purpose.

Gopi Krishna Regmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Secretary of the Health Tax Fund, said that this bill will be presented during the next parliamentary session. He confirmed that " Many countries have already implemented this policy. Nepal is ready to follow this path. »

Finally, Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson for the ministry, points out that these measures aim to reduce the number of smokers in the long term and thus reduce tobacco-related diseases, particularly cancers. Despite previous policies, tobacco consumption remains high, largely due to attractive brand marketing strategies. The government hopes that by combining strong images and plain packaging, such a policy will help deter young people from starting to smoke and strengthen smokers' intentions to quit.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2025, the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population received the WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Award, along with a number of other institutions and individuals from around the world.[3]WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented the award to Nepal's Minister of Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel. He commended the Nepalese government for its decision and called it an extraordinary contribution to public health.

However, experts say other policies need to be implemented to reduce the current prevalence. In particular, tax levels remain too low, with products being very affordable. Furthermore, the influence of the tobacco industry, whose interests are recognized as irreconcilable with those of public health, remains significant.

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[1]Khabarhub, Govt to enforce 100% graphic warnings on tobacco products from August, published May 19, 2025, accessed May 20, 2025

[2]The Rising Nepal, Whole area on tobacco boxes, packets and wrappers to contain shocking pictures, warning, published May 19, 2025, accessed May 20, 2025

[3]The Kathmandu Post, WHO honors Nepal for 'outstanding contribution' to tobacco control, published May 19, 2025, accessed May 20, 2025

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