Nepal to implement new strict rules on tobacco product packaging: Plain packaging to be introduced from Bhadra

Starting from the upcoming month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), a new regulation will come into effect in Nepal, mandating that all types of tobacco product packages available in the Nepali market must include government-specified graphic warnings and cautionary messages.

The Ministry of Health and Population has approved the "Directive on Including Warnings and Images on Tobacco Product Packaging, 2081 (2024 AD)." According to this directive, 80% of the packaging space on products such as cigarettes, khaini (chewing tobacco), bidis, and gutkha must display alarming images related to cancer, death, and other health risks. The remaining 20% must include textual warning messages. The directive specifies that images of mouth cancer, heart attacks, and lung cancer must be featured.

The primary aim of this move is to raise public awareness about the health risks associated with smoking and the use of other tobacco products. In previous years, tobacco packages already displayed graphic warnings on 90% of the space, but the new directive further tightens these requirements.

Nepal is now among the first countries in the world to implement such a directive. The government is also preparing to move toward plain packaging, which would prohibit branding and attractive designs on tobacco packaging. This means companies will no longer be allowed to advertise their brand visually, and all packaging will appear uniform.

Gopi Krishna Regmi, Member Secretary of the Health Tax Fund Secretariat, stated that a legal draft for plain packaging is currently being prepared and will be submitted in the upcoming session of Parliament. Many countries have already implemented plain packaging successfully, and Nepal now aims to follow in that direction.

According to Information Officer Dr. Bhakta Bahadur KC, the adoption of plain packaging is expected to reduce tobacco consumption and diminish the appeal of these products among the youth.

In summary, from Bhadra onwards, Nepal plans to strictly regulate tobacco packaging in a new format, which is expected to contribute to a reduction in tobacco use across the country.