image from Department of Health Facebook page - Cigarette makers are urged to redesign their product packaging by the end of the year
- The design, according to the DOH, should comply with the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) Law
- The GHW Law was signed by outgoing President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2014 which took effect in March
The Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette Garin reiterated that all cigar and cigarette manufacturers are urged to redesign their product packaging to comply with the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) Law by the end of the year.
The outgoing health secretary made the appeal a day after the World Health Organization marked No Tobacco Day as she stressed that it is important to enforce the law to dissuade the youth from smoking.
“Dapat ‘yung sigarilyo, wala siyang maraming kaartehan at wala siyang maraming marketing strategy para maenganyo, lalo na ang mga kabataan,” Garin was quoted saying in an article written by Rie Takumi on GMA NEWS Online.
[“Cigarette designs should be simple and must not have a lot of marketing strategy to entice.”]
Garin said the redesigning of product packaging will not add on and entice but rather discouraged people especially our young generation from smoking.
Furthermore, the outgoing health secretary disclosed she will endorse the campaign to her predecessor.
As mandated, all cigarette manufacturers are directed to comply with the GHW Law by November 4, 2016.
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), cigarette manufacturers should “replace the colorful packaging of their cigarette packs with pre-approved graphic health warnings that show the adverse effects of cigarette smoking to health.”
In 2014, President Benigno Aquino III signed the GHW Law which took effect only in March.
As stated by the Department of Finance (DOF), the initial implementation of the law leads to a 1.75 percent decrease in sin taxes collected off tobacco products in March 2016 from the same period last year.
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