Union Minister of Health, U Than Aung, gave the inaugural speech at the “National Seminar on Pictorial Health Warning on Tobacco Packaging in Myanmar” on 24 August 2015 in Nay Pyi Taw, mentioning that Notification to implement 75% Pictorial Health Warning on tobacco products will be issued soon. The seminar was organized by People’s Health Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). South East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) was invited to provide technical assistant by sharing the experience of ASEAN and other countries.

The seminar discussed and highlighted the effectiveness of prominent packaging and labelling of tobacco products, consist to WHO FCTC Article 11 guidelines. Dr. Nang Naing Naing Shein from MOH, Myanmar presented the process of the notification including the selected pictures by the Ministry of Health.

There were fruitful discussions and experience-sharing on technical and legislative considerations in implementing tobacco packaging and labelling policies. The People Health Foundation will submit recommendations from the workshop to the Ministry of Health and related Ministries.