These tables provide a comparison of the key features in plain packaging legislation from different countries. It is intended to provide examples but is not fully comprehensive for all features in each piece of legislation. The laws for some countries impose extremely detailed requirements, and it is recommended that officials refer to the specific legislation for these.
 | |
|---|---|
| Controlling Regulation | Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011(TPPA) Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011 (TPPR) |
| Pack Color | Exterior: Pantone 448C, matte finish. TPPR 2.2.1(2) Interior: white. TPPR 2.2.1(3)Exterior: Pantone 448C, matte finish. TPPR 2.2.1(2) Interior: white. TPPR 2.2.1(3) |
| Text Color | Pantone Cool Gray 2C, matte finish. TPPR 2.4.2(2) |
| Permitted text | Brand name, variant name. TPPA 20(1-3) and 21(1) Producers’ name and address, fire-risk statement, locally made product statement, origin mark. TPPR 2.3.1(1) |
| Other text requirements | All text: Lucida Sans, normal weighted regular font. Various Brand name: point 14. TPPR 2.4.2(2)(b) All other text: point 10. Various |
| Shape and type of packets for cigarettes | Rectangular, with 90 degree angles and specified dimensions for each surface. TPPA18(2)(b) and TPPR 2.1.1(1) |
| Type of opening for cigarettes | Flip-top lid only.
TPPA 18(3)(b) and TPPR 2.1.1(3) |
| Minimum Content | Cigarettes: 20. Sale of Tobacco Act 2004 A 12 Roll-your-own: NA. |
| Material for cigarette packs | Rigid cardboard TPPA 18(2)(a) |
| Linings | Cigarettes: Silver foil with white paper backing, regular embossed dots
permitted.
TPPA 18(3)(d) and TPPR 2.2.1(4) |
| Texture | No embellishments permitted inside or out. TPPA 18(1)(a) |
| Wrappers | Must be clear and transparent. Tear strip permitted. Single bar code permitted. TPPA 22 and TPPR 2.3.1 and 2.3.5 |
| Sound and smell | Characteristic noises or scents prohibited. TPPA 25 |
| Features designed to change after sale | Prohibited. TPPA 24 |
| Inserts, onserts and stickers | Prohibited. TPPA 23 |
| Barcodes | One permitted. Must be black and white and not form a picture. TPPR 2.3.1(1)(d) and 2.3.5 |
| The appearance of individual products | Cigarettes: White casing with white or imitation cork tip. Standardised small alphanumeric code permitted. TPPR 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 Cigars: standardised band permitted around the circumference of cigar. TPPR 3.2.1(1)and(2) |
 | |
|---|---|
| Controlling Regulation | Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 (SPTPR) |
| Pack Color | Exterior: Pantone 448C, matte finish. SPTPR 2(2)
Interior: white or Pantone 448C. SPTPR 3(3) |
| Text Color | Pantone Cool Gray 2C, matte finish. SPTPR sch1 ¶1(2) and Sch3 ¶1(2) |
| Permitted text | Brand name, variant name.
SPTPR sch1 ¶1 and Sch3 ¶1
Producers’ name and address, fire risk statement, locally made product
statement, origin mark.
SPTPR sch1 ¶3 and Sch3 ¶3 |
| Other text requirements | All text: Helvetica, normal weighted regular font.
SPTPR – sch1 and sch3 various
Brand name: point 14.
SPTPR sch1 ¶1(2)(j) and sch3 ¶1(2)(j)
All other text: point 10.
SPTPR sch1 and sch3 various |
| Shape and type of packets for cigarettes | Cuboid (rounded or bevelled edges permitted).
SPTPR 4(3) |
| Type of opening for cigarettes | If the opening may be reclosed, then only flip-top lid and shoulder box.
SPTPR 4(4-6) |
| Minimum Content | Cigarettes: 20.
SPTPR 4(8)
Roll-your-own: 30g.
SPTPR 8(4) |
| Material for cigarette packs | Carton or soft material
SPTPR 4(2) |
| Linings | Cigarettes: Silver foil with white paper backing, regular embossed dots
permitted.
SPTPR sch2 ¶3(1) |
| Texture | Must be smooth and flat, and must contain no ridges, embossing or other
irregularities of shape or texture.
SPTPR sch2 ¶1(1) |
| Wrappers | Must be clear and transparent. Tear strip permitted. Single bar code
permitted.
SPTPR sch2 ¶4 and sch4 ¶4 |
| Sound and smell | Characteristic sound and smell prohibited.
SPTPR 11 |
| Features designed to change after sale | Prohibited.
SPTPR 12 |
| Inserts, onserts and stickers | Prohibited (except for cigarette papers and filters in packs of
roll-your-own).
SPTPR sch2 ¶2 and sch4 ¶2 |
| Barcodes | One permitted. Must be black and white or Pantone 448C and white. Must not be on
front and must not form a picture.
SPTPR sch1 ¶4 and sch3 ¶5 |
| The appearance of individual products | Cigarettes: White casing with white or imitation cork tip. Brand/variant name
permitted next to tip in standard typeface.
SPTPR 5(2)-(5) |
 | |
|---|---|
| Controlling Regulation |
Ministerial Decree on Neutrality of Packaging of cigarettes
and rolling tobacco of 21 March 2016 (MDNP) Public Health Code (PHC) |
| Pack Color | Exterior: Pantone 448C. MDNP–1.a Interior: white or Pantone 448C. MDNP - 3§1 |
| Text Color | Pantone Cool Gray 2C, matte finish. MDNP - 2§2d |
| Permitted text | Brand name, variant name. MDNP - 2§1 Producers’ name and address, fire risk statement, locally made product statement, origin mark. MDNP - 2§3 |
| Other text requirements | All text: Helvetica, normal weighted regular font. Brand name: point 14. All other text: point 10. MDNP - 2§2 and 2§3 |
| Shape and type of packets for cigarettes |
Cuboid. MDNP – 7§1 |
| Type of opening for cigarettes | If the opening may be reclosed, then only flip-top lid and shoulder box. PHC R. 3512-23 |
| Minimum Content |
Cigarettes: 20. Roll-your-own: 30g. PHC L. 3512-14 |
| Material for cigarette packs | Carton or flexible material PHC R. 3512-22.I |
| Linings | Cigarettes: Silver foil with white paper backing, regular embossed dots permitted. MDNP 3§2&3 |
| Texture | Must be smooth and flat. PHC R. 3512-22.III |
| Wrappers | Must be clear and transparent. Tear strip permitted. Single bar code permitted. PHC R. 3512-19 and MDNP 5§1 |
| Sound and smell | Characteristic sound and smell prohibited. PHC R. 3512-20.I |
| Features designed to change after sale | Prohibited. PHC R. 3512-20.I |
| Inserts, onserts and stickers | Prohibited (except for cigarette papers and filters in packs of roll-your-own). PHC R 3511-18.II and R. 3511-20.II |
| Barcodes | One permitted. Must be black and white or Pantone 448C and white. Must not be on front and must not form a picture. PHC R 3511-17 and MDNP 1.b |
| The appearance of individual products | Cigarettes: White casing with white or imitation cork tip. Brand/variant name permitted next to tip in standard typeface. MDNP 4§1-3 |
 | |
|---|---|
| Controlling Regulation | Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015
(PHA) Public Health(Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Regulations 2016 (PHR) |
| Pack Color | Exterior: Pantone 448C, matte finish. PHR –6 Interior: white or Pantone 448C .PHR – 6 |
| Text Color | Pantone Cool Gray 2C, matte finish. PHR 7(f) |
| Permitted text | Brand name, variant name. PHA – 7(3) Contact Details of Manufacturer. PHR - 13 |
| Other text requirements | All text: Helvetica, normal weighted regular typeface. PHR 7(d)-(e) First letter capitalized and the rest in lower case PHR 7(b) Brand name: point 14. PHR 7(j) Variant name and manufacturer contact details: point 10. PHR 7(k) |
| Shape and type of packets for cigarettes |
Cuboid (rounded or bevelled edges permitted). PHA – 7(6) |
| Type of opening for cigarettes | If the opening may be reclosed, then only flip-top lid and shoulder box. PHA – 7(6) |
| Minimum Content |
Cigarettes: 20. Public Health (Tobacco) Act, 2002– Sec 38(1) Roll-your-own: 30g. European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 Reg 13(1) |
| Material for cigarette packs | Carton or soft material PHA – 7(6) |
| Linings | Cigarettes: Silver foil with white paper backing. Other products: white or the colour of the packaging material in its natural state. Embossed dots or squares permitted PHR - 16 |
| Texture | No decorative ridges, embossing or other embellishments. PHA – 7(1)(d) |
| Wrappers | Must be transparent and uncolored. Black tear strip permitted. PHA – 7(8) |
| Sound and smell | Audio effects or scents that promote the product are prohibited. PHA 14(a) |
| Features designed to change after sale | Prohibited. PHA 14(b) |
| Inserts, onserts and stickers | Prohibited. PHA – 7(1)(f) |
| Barcodes | One permitted. Must be black and white and not form a picture. PHR - 14 |
| The appearance of individual products | Cigarettes: White casing with white or imitation cork tip. Brand and variant name permitted next to tip in standard typeface. PHA – 8(1)-2 |
 | |
|---|---|
| Controlling Regulation | Decree No. 239/2016 (D239) (English) |
| Pack Color | Exterior: Pantone 448M, matte finish. Interior: white. D239 – 6B§3(a) |
| Text Color | Pantone Cool Gray 1M, matte finish. D239 – 6B§4(a) |
| Permitted text | Brand Name and type of cigarette or cigarette tobacco brand. D239 – 6B§3(f) |
| Other text requirements | All text: Helvetica, normal weighted regular typeface. First letter capitalized and the rest in lower case Brand name: point 14. Variant name and manufacturer contact details: point 10. D239 – 6C§4 |
| Shape and type of packets for cigarettes |
Cuboid. D239 – 6§4 |
| Type of opening for cigarettes | If the opening may be reclosed, then only flip-top lid and shoulder box. D239 – 6§4 |
| Minimum Content |
Cigarettes: not less than 20 but no more than 25. D239 – 15A§ (a) Roll-your-own: no less than 30g but no more than 50g and the weight must be divisible by 10 with no remainder. D239 – 15A§ (c) |
| Material for cigarette packs | Carton or soft material D239 - 6§4 |
| Linings | Cigarettes: white or matte silver color. No decorative grooving, embossing or other decorative elements, except roughening used for non-decorative purposes. D239 –6B7§7 |
| Texture | No decorative grooving, embossing or other decorative elements. D239 -6B7§7 |
| Wrappers | Must be un-tinted and transparent. Tear strip permitted. D239 – 6A§8 |
| Sound and smell | Scents that modify the smell of tobacco products are prohibited. 4A§2 |
| Features designed to change after sale | Likely prohibited. Packs may not contain any elements other than those specified in the Act. 6C§1(c) |
| Inserts, onserts and stickers | Not permitted. D239 – 6B§3(d) |
| Barcodes | One permitted. D239 – 6B§11 |
| The appearance of individual products | Cigarettes: White casing with white or imitation cork tip. Brand and variant name permitted next to tip in standard typeface. 6C§(1) –(2) |