Burkina Faso: Anti-tobacco law introduces plain packaging

The Burkinabe government, chaired by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou, adopted on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Council of Ministers, a new decree relating to the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.[1]The new decree, issued by the Ministry of Health, updates the 2011 and 2019 texts on the labeling of cigarette packets.

Introduction of plain packaging, particularly to protect young people

Although the prevalence of smoking has decreased from 19.8 % in 2013 to 13.6 % in 2021, tobacco remains responsible for more than 4,800 preventable premature deaths each year, including 1,300 non-smokers who are victims of passive smoking. Each year, the treatment of tobacco-related pathologies absorbs 3.5 billion pounds of the health budget. ", reveals Dr. Aminata Zongo, a pulmonologist in Ouagadougou.

A cost that the government intends to reduce by targeting 15-24 year olds, among whom consumption has increased by 8% since 2020 according to a university study: “ The adoption of this new decree aims to make tobacco products less attractive and appealing to the population, particularly young people. ", explained the Minister of Health, Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou[2].

Large graphic warnings placed on a plain package

The Burkinabe government has adopted a new decree on the packaging and labeling of tobacco products, aimed at complying with the guidelines of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This decree establishes plain packaging, prohibiting logos, colors, or promotional text on packaging, with the exception of the brand name and its variant, which must be displayed in a standardized manner. Similarly, all packaging must comply with a uniform, matte color. Plain packaging prevents manufacturers from using packaging as advertising media. It also increases the effectiveness of the warnings displayed.

In this regard, the new decree stipulates that packages must display health warnings covering at least 80% of their main surfaces. Made more visible, they will have a combined format combining text and a photo showing, for example, the lungs of cancer patients, or addressing cardiac risks.

This measure is part of a strategy aimed at "denormalizing" tobacco consumption and thus reducing its consumption and protecting public health.

A strengthening of the country's anti-tobacco policy is also being implemented in other African countries.

Burkina Faso is adopting a comprehensive approach to combating smoking, including banning advertising, increasing taxes (the price of a pack has risen from 1,000 to 1,500 CFA francs in three years, or about 1.5 euros to 2.2 euros), expanding smoke-free areas, and prevention campaigns in local languages at football matches.

Legal cigarette sales have fallen by 22 billion since 2022, but illicit trade still accounts for 35 billion of sales, according to the Anti-Fraud Office, and remains a challenge. Authorities plan to strengthen controls, particularly at borders, and to cooperate with Interpol. While multinationals in the sector argue that the government's measures encourage smuggling, tobacco control activists point out that the contraband products mentioned by tobacco manufacturers are leaving their factories.

With this reform, Burkina Faso joins Ivory Coast and Mauritius, which have already adopted plain packaging, while South Africa and Botswana are considering this measure[4].

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]HO/ac/Sf/APA, Burkina Faso toughens anti-tobacco fight, APANews, published March 13, 2025, accessed March 18, 2025

[2]SWI AIB, Burkina: Council of Ministers adopts decree to protect population from dangers of smoking, published March 12, 2025, accessed March 18, 2025

[3]Djomande Aziz, Burkina Faso: Tightening of the anti-tobacco law with the introduction of plain packaging, Linfodrome, published March 12, 2025, accessed March 18, 2025

[4]National Committee against Smoking, Laos adopts plain packaging for cigarettes, published October 9, 2024, accessed March 18, 2025

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