The government will require cigarette manufacturers to start printing graphic warning signals on cigarette packs on March 3, but an executive said it will take months before the order is fully implemented.
British America Tobacco Philippines said consumers would start to see packs with new graphic health warning signals on retail shelves by November.
“We would like to clarify the significance of the March 3 implementation date. It is the date when manufacturers or importers are now required to have GHWs on their packs upon removal of the goods from their factories or release of the goods from Customs, as the case may be, for storage in their warehouses and eventually for distribution,” BAT chief executive James Lafferty said.
“It does not mean that all packs offered for sale in the market or in retail stores are now required to be in the GHW format,” Lafferty said.
Lafferty lauded the recent release of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10643, or the Graphic Health Warning law.
The GHW law, enacted in July 2014, mandated graphic health warnings on cigarette packs to warn smokers of the potential health risks associated with cigarette smoking.
The law requires that manufacturers and importers start using GHW packs 12 months after the Health Department released the picture templates on March 3, 2015, thus paving the way for the March 3, 2016 implementation date.
Lafferty said the cigarette packs with GHW would likely be seen in the market eight months after the implementation or by November.
“It is important to remember that the law provided for a two-step implementation period. In addition to the March 3 deadline, there is an eight-month period or until Nov. 3 this year, when stores are still allowed to sell packs with the text health warnings. This means that in the interim the market will see a combination of both text and GHW packs. After Nov. 3, all packs should be GHW-compliant,” Lafferty said.
“We believe it is important to clarify this in order to avoid confusion amongst retailers and consumers. But undoubtedly, BAT will fully comply to the letter of the law,” Lafferty said.
BAT is the maker of Pall Mall and Lucky Strike cigarettes.
