In 2001, after a decade-long legal battle, the Supreme Court upheld the DOH administrative order (AO) no. 10, which required 25% size health warnings on both front and back panels of tobacco products (see full story here). Unfortunately, AO 10 was never implemented. The tobacco industry was able to delay its implementation until the drafting and subsequent enactment of RA 9211 (Tobacco Regulations Act of 2003).

Beginning July 1, 2006, RA 9211 requires a 30% size warning only on the front panel--a definite step BACKWARDS!

As the tobacco industry is AGAIN trying its delaying tactics regarding the placement of the 30% health warnings on the front displays (click here to see FCAP's response), it is expected that it will also use its political and financial influence to delay the implementation of the FCTC's minimum labelling requirements.

The international community is ouraged and has inititated a signature campaign urging the Philippine government to take action on this delaying tactic of the tobacco industry. Sign on to the international petition here.

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Senator Pia Cayetano responds (see the Senate press release).

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The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), requires that health warnings occupy at least 30% of the principal display areas (both front and back of packages), with the recommendation that they be 50% or more of the principal display areas and be in the form of or include pictures or pictograms.

[see examples of picture warnings from Canada, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and other countries]

The Philippines, having ratified the FCTC, is required to implement this minimum requirement within the next 3 years (by March 2008).

FCAP strongly recommends that the Philippine government learn from the successful experience of countries with pictorial health warnings: see the Hanoi Declaration on Graphic Health Warnings.