Graphic health warnings on tobacco packets and containers: compliance status in Bangladesh

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study describes and analyses compliance with tobacco product graphic health warning (GHW) legislation introduced in Bangladesh in March 2016.MethodsA survey based on a structured questionnaire was conducted in April 2016 (immediately following the law coming into force), and 8 months later in November 2016, in eight divisional cities in Bangladesh. Five stores from three categories of retailers of combustible and smokeless tobacco products were surveyed, providing a total of 120 completed questionnaires. The study investigated a range of measures including the image and text of GHW, their ratio and colour use, and prescribed rotation.FindingsWarning labels for 3312 tobacco items were assessed. In April 2016, 75% of tobacco products surveyed did not have GHWs. In November 2016, 19% were still found to not have the prescribed warnings. Even among products which did include GHW, there was significant non-compliance with the full range of requirements, in both survey periods. Compliance was highest for cigarette packets and lowest among smokeless tobacco products. In addition, awareness among tobacco retailers about the range of GHW requirements was low.ConclusionEffective implementation of GHW labels in low-income and middle-income countries requires awareness-raising among key stakeholders, combined with focused monitoring and compliance strategies. This should take into account different product categories and manufacturers, as well as measures targeted at retailers.

Smokeless tobacco policy in Bangladesh: A stakeholder study of compatibility with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

“…In addition, most participants suggested having a standard packaging system for ST products with proper GHWs and information of contents to the public. The findings of our study coincide with the study conducted by Rahman et al (2019) to observe compliance with tobacco product GHWs in Bangladesh [26]. The study found that 53% of zarda packets and 58% of gul packets had 50% of the packet area covered by GHWs.…”

Factors associated with the intention to continue using tobacco among adolescents: A secondary analysis of the 2015 Global Youth Tobacco Survey in the Philippines

“…Graphic health warnings are intended to prompt smokers to think that they could contract diseases depicted in the pictures. Worldwide, GHWs were proven effective in prompting smokers to think about the dangers of smoking which are associated with increased intention to quit [11][12][13] . Moreover, this study showed that non-exposure to health warnings leads to higher odds of intention to continue smoking among adolescents.…”

A decade of cigarette taxation in Bangladesh: lessons learnt for tobacco control

“…activities involving corporate social responsibility such as charity-giving to encourage smoking, particularly among youth) and weak enforcement of non-tax tobacco control measures (e.g. non-compliance of graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging) in the country 39 , 40 . More research is needed into factors affecting trends in consumption of tobacco.…”