Myanmar to adopt plain packaging in 2022

The Ministry of Health of Myanmar issued a notification on 12 October 2021 for the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products. This measure does not include heated tobacco products. The country will be the 3rd in Asia and the 19th in the world to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products. The provision will come into effect on 12 April 2022 for manufacturing and 12 July 2022 for retail marketing.[1].

Countries that have introduced the measure:

The regulatory text requires that all exterior surfaces of packaging (pack, case, cartridges and others) be of a dull, standardized dark brown color. These surfaces will also be flat, smooth and must not include any shape, texture or decorative element. Only brand names may be affixed in a standardized font type and size. Similarly, all interior surfaces of the packaging must be plain white. These provisions will be in addition to those relating to the illustrated health warnings in force and which occupy 75 % of the upper front and rear exterior surfaces.

A proven measure included in the WHO Framework Convention

Plain packaging for tobacco products is one of the scientifically supported measures recommended in the implementation guidelines of Article 11 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCLAT) of the WHO on the packaging and labelling of tobacco products and also in those relating to the prohibition of any form of advertising in favour of these products (Article 13). Its objectives are:

– to increase the visibility and effectiveness of health warnings.

– to prevent packaging techniques that suggest that some products are less harmful than others;

– to prevent the use of the package as an advertising medium.

In doing so, it helps to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products.

The measure is expected to come into effect in Myanmar on April 12, 2021, with a phase-out of the marked packages within 90 days, by July 12, 2022.

Dr Kyaw Kan Kaung, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the adoption of plain packaging: “ This is an important milestone in tobacco control in the country. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and this measure will make a major contribution to reducing NCDs which are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Myanmar. We would also like to thank the Union and all our partners for their tremendous efforts and contribution to this achievement. »[2]

The challenges of tobacco control in Myanmar

More than 17% of all annual deaths in the country (65,600 people) are due to tobacco use. Despite efforts, tobacco use remains a concern, with 26.1 TP3T of the population smoking daily (43.8 TP3T of men and 8.4 TP3T of women) and 43.2 TP3T of daily smokeless/chewing tobacco users (62.2 TP3T of men and 24.1 TP3T of women). Among youth, the prevalence of smoking is 11 TP3T (21 TP3T of boys, 2 TP3T of girls) and 6 TP3T for smokeless/chewing tobacco use (11 TP3T of boys, 2 TP3T of girls). Beyond the health aspect, the economic cost of tobacco represents 3.3% of the country's GDP[3].

Keywords: Myanmar, plain packaging, CCLAT, health

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