SEATCA Press Release
20 years of the global health treaty: We do not need 20 years more to end tobacco
TobaccWatch
WHO FCTC 20th Anniversary – Global action that changed tobacco control forever
Tobacco control milestones in ASEAN Countries
2004
Brunei: Ratified the WHO FCTC (3 June)
Brunei: Haram fatwa on smoking issued
Malaysia: Control of Tobacco Products Regulations under Food Act of 1983 was passed
Myanmar: Ratified the WHO FCTC (21 April)
Singapore: Ratified the WHO FCTC (14 May)
Singapore: Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sales Act)
Singapore: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 50% front and back)
Thailand: Ratified the WHO FCTC (8 November)
Vietnam: Ratified the WHO FCTC (17 December)
2005
Brunei: Tobacco Order 2005 (S49/05) passed and banning sales of single sticks and kiddie packs (less than 20-stick per pack)
Brunei: Smoking cessation clinics established
Cambodia: Ratified the WHO FCTC (15 November)
Lao PDR: Tobacco Control Task Force Committee established
Malaysia: Ratified the WHO FCTC (16 September)
Philippines: Ratified the WHO FCTC (6 June)
Thailand: Pictorial health warnings implemented (Top 50% front and back)
2006
Lao PDR: Ratified the WHO FCTC (6 September) and Minister of Health Regulation requiring 30% text warning
Malaysia: Malaysian Health Promotion Board (MySihat) was established and abolished in 2018
Myanmar: The Control of Smoking and Consumption of Tobacco Product Law legislated
Singapore: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) (Top 50% front and back)
Thailand: Excise tax at 80% of the factory price
2007
Brunei: Tobacco Regulations legislated
Thailand: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) – warning size increased to 55% front and back
Thailand: Ban on false and misleading descriptors
2008
Brunei: Tobacco Control Unit established
Thailand: Smoking ban in pub/bar/discotheques
2009
Brunei: National Committee on Tobacco Control established
Brunei: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 50% front and back)
Cambodia: Sub-decree on textual health warning on cigarette packages
Lao PDR: Tobacco Control Law legislated
Lao PDR: Ban on sale of single sticks of cigarettes and kiddie packs
Malaysia: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 40% front and 60% back)
Malaysia: Ban on false or misleading descriptors
Thailand: Excise tax at 85% of factory price
2010
Brunei: New tobacco tax and price (Cigarettes BND 0.25 per stick)
Brunei: Point of sale pack display ban
Brunei: Additional requirements for tobacco retail license
Lao PDR: Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) ban, including TAPS via internet
Lao PDR: Ban on false and misleading descriptors
Lao PDR: Specific tax on 100 LAK per pack imposed
Myanmar: Cessation services established
Philippine: CSC-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 Protection of the Bureaucracy against Tobacco Industry Interference was adopted
Thailand: 3rd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
2011
Cambodia: Comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) sub-decree
Cambodia: Expansion of smoke-free workplaces
Lao PDR: Specific tax per pack increased to 500 LAK
Myanmar: Central Tobacco Control Committee established
2012
Brunei: 100% smoke-free airport
Brunei: Expansion of smoke-free areas
Indonesia: Local smoke-free area (KTR) became the key tobacco control policy to be spread out nationwide
Philippines: RA 10351 Sin Tax Law legislated
Thailand: Excise tax at 87% of factory price
Vietnam: Tobacco Control Law legislated
2013
Lao PDR: Tobacco control fund established
Singapore: 3rd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Singapore: Ban on false or misleading descriptors
Vietnam: Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund established
Vietnam: Pictorial health warnings implemented (Top 50% front and back)
Vietnam: Ban on false or misleading descriptors, POS advertising, TAPS via internet
2014
Brunei: No more licensed tobacco retailer (since May 2014)
Brunei: Smoking cessation clinics expanded to all health centers nationwide and one hospital
Cambodia: Ban on sales and imports of shisha and e-cigarette
Cambodia: Smoking ban at workplaces and public places (Circular)
Indonesia: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 40% front and back)
Malaysia: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) – warning size increased to 50% front and 60% back
Myanmar: Notification on posting signage for no smoking area issued
Philippines: RA 10643 Graphic Health Warning on Tobacco Products Law legislated
Philippines: AO – 2014 -0008 FDA Rules and Regulations on ENDS
Singapore: Ban on emerging tobacco products
Singapore: 10% tobacco tax increase in all tobacco products
Thailand: 4th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Vietnam: Revision of law on excise tax
2015
Brunei: Increased in licensing fee for importer and retailer
Cambodia: Tobacco Control Law legislated
Lao PDR: Excise tax rate of 45% of wholesale
Thailand: Ban on sales and imports of shisha and e-cigarette
2016
Cambodia: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 55% front and back)
Cambodia: Smoking ban at workplaces and public places (Sub-decree)
Indonesia: Guideline for managing conflict of interest with the tobacco industry in the Ministry of Health
Lao PDR: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 75% front and back)
Lao PDR:Â Ban on corporate social responsibility by the tobacco industry
Myanmar: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Top 75% front and back) on all tobacco products
Philippines: Pictorial health warnings (PHWs) implemented (Bottom 50% front and back)
Philippines: Ban on false or misleading descriptors
Thailand:Â Excise tax at 90% of factory price
Vietnam: Ban on kiddie packs
2017
Brunei: Increase in tobacco tax by 100% (Cigarettes – BND 0.50 per stick)
Cambodia: Tobacco control committee established
Cambodia: Sub-decree on establishement and functioning of the CFTC legislated
Indonesia: Point of sale pack display ban in Bogor (this regulation has been expanded to 14 other cities)
Myanmar: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Philippines: RA 10963 law imposing additional increase in excise taxes for tobacco products legislated
Singapore: Point of sale pack display ban
Thailand: Tobacco Products Control Act 2017
2018
Cambodia: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Cambodia: 490 Tobacco Control Inspection Officers established
Cambodia: Strategic plan on tobacco education and reduction phase 2 adopted (2001 – 2026)
Indonesia: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Lao PDR: MOH code of conduct on Article 5.3 between health sector and tobacco industry
Lao PDR: Ban on sale of electronic smoking devices, shisha and water pipe
Lao PDR: Specific tax per pack increased to 600 LAK
Malaysia: Expansion of smoke free places (23 places) and expansion in 5 cities
Myanmar: 3rd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Philippines: 2nd rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Singapore: Ban on possession and use of ENDS
Singapore: 10% tobacco tax increase in all tobacco products
Thailand: Regulations on display of text or message that may mislead or motivate consumption of tobacco products; display of names, prices, points of sale of tobacco products, displaying no smoking signs
Vietnam: Restricting the use of tobacco in theatrical and film works
2019
Brunei: Prime Minister’s Office circular for civil servants on involvement with tobacco industries was endorsed
Lao PDR: Decree on penalties for the implementation of tobacco control law and regulations
Lao PDR: Excise tax rate increased to 50% of wholesale
Myanmar: 4th rotation pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Philippines: RA 11346 additional increase in excise taxes; levied new taxes on ENDS and heated tobacco products
Philippines: 3rd set of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) for rotation in 2020
Singapore: Minimum Legal Age for purchase, use, and possession of tobacco increased to 19
Singapore: Smoking ban on Orchard Road
Thailand: Standardized packaging for cigarettes and 5th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Vietnam: Prohibition of smoking and drinking alcohol at schools
2020
Malaysia: Minimum retail price for cigarettes was increased to MYR 12 (USD 2.90)
Myanmar: 5th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Philippines: Executive Order 106 “Smoke-Free Vape-Free Environment”
Philippines: RA 11467 additional increase in excise taxes for ENDS and heated tobacco products
Philippines: AO 2020-0055 (Regulation on Vapor Products and Heated Tobacco Products under FDA
Singapore: Minimum Legal Age for purchase, use, and possession of tobacco increased to 20
Singapore: Standardized packaging for all tobacco products. 4th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) and increased warning size to 75% front and back
Thailand: Standardized packaging for shredded tobacco
Vietnam: Penalties increased for violation of tobacco control laws
2021
Cambodia: Ban all forms of partnerships with tobacco industry among educational facilities
Cambodia: Ban the use, sale, and importation of HTPs (in addition to ban on e-cigarettes and shisha since 2014)
Lao PDR: Excise tax rate increased to 57% of wholesale
Lao PDR: Tobacco Control Law amended – protecting public health policies from tobacco industry interference, licensing of tobacco retailers and wholesalers, cigarette pack display ban etc.Â
Malaysia: Amendment of CTPR 2004 for tobacco and smoking products on packaging and labeling, pictorial health warning, notification requirement on the product specifications and emission standard
Myanmar: Standardized packaging notification on tobacco products approved and 6th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) effective 10 April 2022, postponed to 31 December 2024
Philippines: 4th set of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) for rotation in 2022
Singapore: Minimum Legal Age for purchase, use, and possession of tobacco increased to 21
Thailand: Revision of tobacco tax structure
Vietnam: Prescribing penalties for administrative violations involving cultural and advertising activities
2022
Cambodia: Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) Circular on banning the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in educational places
Lao PDR: Ministry of Public Security Order on comprehensive e-cigarette ban with fines for violations
Philippines: DOH AO 2022 -0003 (National Policy on the Prevention and Control of Use of Tobacco Products, Vapor Products, Heated Tobacco Products and other Novel, Emerging, or Similar Products)
Philippines: DOH AO 2022 – 0047 (1st set of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) for vaporized nicotine, and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products, full implementation by May 2024)
Singapore: Extension of smoking ban to recreational beaches, parks, and gardens
Thailand: National Tobacco Control Action Plan
2023
Brunei: Excise tax for e-liquid, juice/gel (BDN 4.00/ml) effective 17 May 2023
Indonesia: New Omnibus Health Law legislated
Lao PDR: Presidential resolution on tobacco tax increased from 57% to 72%
Lao PDR: Order for police inspections to sanction violations of e-cigarette ban
Philippines: 5th set of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) for rotation in 2024
Singapore: 15% tobacco tax increase on all tobacco products
Vietnam: Regulating the implementation of smoke-free establishments and smoke-free awards
2024
Cambodia: 4th rotation of pictorial health warnings (PHWs)
Cambodia: Ordinance banning partnerships with tobacco industry in entertainment venues signed
Lao PDR: Standardized tobacco packaging regulation legislated in May and full implementation in December
Malaysia: The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act legislated
Vietnam: Ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products
