Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition
CAP. 28.14
TOBACCO CONTROL ACT
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Arrangement of Sections
2008 Revised Edition
Page 3
TOBACCO CONTROL ACT
Arrangement of Sections
Section
1 Short title and commencement............................................................................... 5
2 Purpose................................................................................................................... 5
3 Interpretation.......................................................................................................... 6
4 Prohibition on advertising.................................................................................... 10
5 Activities that are not tobacco product advertisements ....................................... 10
6 Permitted activities .............................................................................................. 10
7 ‘Smoking Kills’ signage at point of sale.............................................................. 11
8 Prohibition against brand stretching .................................................................... 11
9 Prohibition against reverse brand stretching........................................................ 12
10 Tobacco sponsorships, scholarships, etc. prohibited ........................................... 12
11 Sale of tobacco products to people under 18 prohibited ...................................... 13
12 Confectionery and toy tobacco products prohibited ............................................ 13
13 Sale of tobacco via vending machines and other methods of unsupervised
sales prohibited .................................................................................................... 14
14 Free distribution and rewards prohibited ............................................................. 14
15 Controls on the content of tobacco products........................................................ 15
16 Testing required ................................................................................................... 15
17 Reports of constituents, additives, and certain business information
required ................................................................................................................ 16
18 Packaging and labelling requirements ................................................................. 16
19 Other acceptable standard may be adopted.......................................................... 17
20 Constituent and additives disclosures required to be displayed on all
tobacco product packages .................................................................................... 18
21 Package inserts..................................................................................................... 18
22 Misleading labelling prohibited ........................................................................... 18
23 Smoking in public places and workplaces prohibited.......................................... 19
24 Smoking in restaurants until 31 May 2009 .......................................................... 19
25 Smoking in restaurants from 1 June 2009............................................................ 20
26 Smoking in licensed premises until 31 May 2009 ............................................... 21
26A Smoking on licensed premises from 1 June 2009................................................ 21
27 Smoking in certain institutions ............................................................................ 21
Arrangement of Sections CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 4
28 No smoking signs required...................................................................................22
29 No smoking on public transport vehicles .............................................................22
30 Smoking in aircraft...............................................................................................23
31 Obligations of owners or operators of premises and owners or operators of
public transport vehicles or aircraft......................................................................23
32 Appointment of Enforcement Officers.................................................................23
33 Inspection and investigative powers of Enforcement Officers.............................24
34 Duties of Enforcement Officers ...........................................................................25
35 Liability for the actions of agents or employees ..................................................26
36 Additional penalties..............................................................................................26
37 Enforcement cost recovery...................................................................................27
38 Regulations...........................................................................................................27
ENDNOTES 30
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 1
2008 Revised Edition
Page 5
TOBACCO CONTROL ACT
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF TUVALU
FROM THE DISEASES CAUSED BY TOBACCO USE AND TO REDUCE
THE SOCIAL APPROVAL OF TOBACCO USE IN TUVALU BY
APPLYING CONTROLS ON THE MARKETING, ADVERTISING,
PROMOTION AND SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND THEIR
ASSOCIATION THROUGH SPONSORSHIP WITH OTHER PRODUCTS
AND EVENTS.1
Commencement [30 December 2008]2
1 Short title and commencement
(1) This Act may be cited as the Tobacco Control Act.
(2) This Act comes into force on the date of its publication by exhibition except
as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
(3) Sections 24 and 26 of this Act shall cease to have effect at midnight on 31
May 2009.
(4) Sections 25 and 26B of this Act shall come into force on 1 June 2009.
2 Purpose
The purposes of this Act are —
(a) to protect the health of the people of Tuvalu from the diseases caused
by tobacco use;
(b) to reduce the social approval of tobacco use in Tuvalu by applying
controls on the marketing, advertising, promotion and sale of tobacco
products and their association through sponsorship with other products
and events;
Section 3 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 6
(c) to protect the health of young persons by restricting access to tobacco
products;
(d) to promote the accurate portrayal of the health and social consequences
of tobacco use;
(e) to enhance awareness of the hazards of tobacco use and exposure to
tobacco smoke by ensuring the effective communication of accurate
and relevant information about tobacco use and exposure;
(f) to reduce some of the harmful effects of tobacco products by
monitoring and regulating the presence of harmful substances in
tobacco products and in tobacco smoke;
(g) to protect individuals from the hazards of exposure to tobacco smoke;
(h) to promote an environment where non-smoking and the absence of
tobacco promotion is the norm.
3 Interpretation
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —
Additive means a substance that forms part of a tobacco product that is not
cured tobacco leaf; and includes —
(a) a substance forming part of the product that has been derived or refined
from tobacco leaf (whether cured or not); and
(b) any substance that is introduced into a tobacco product during
processing, manufacturing, or packaging, including, as applicable,
those contained in the paper, filter, portion pouch or similar part of the
tobacco product;
Broadcast means the transmission of programmes, whether or not encrypted,
by radio waves or other means of telecommunication for reception by the
public by means of broadcasting receiving apparatus;
Cigarette means a tobacco product comprising a roll of cut tobacco, enclosed
in paper;
Constituents in relation to tobacco products intended for smoking, means the
chemicals found in the product itself, and in the smoke emitted from the
product, and in relation to smokeless tobacco products, constituents mean the
chemicals inherent in the tobacco itself;
Court means the Magistrates or Senior Magistrates Court;
Distributor means a person that is in the business of selling tobacco products
(but who does not sell tobacco products by retail) and includes a manufacturer
or importer of tobacco products;
Enforcement Officer means a person appointed for the purposes of this Act
under section 34 of this Act;
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 3
2008 Revised Edition
Page 7
Exporter means any person that sends, or arranges for tobacco products or
raw tobacco to be sent from Tuvalu to a point outside Tuvalu;
Health message means a warning or an explanatory statement about the
health effects of tobacco use, the benefits of and/or suggestions for quitting,
and any other matter related to tobacco and health, as prescribed by
regulations made under the Act;
Importer means any person who brings tobacco products or raw tobacco into
Tuvalu for the purpose of sale or distribution;
Licensed premises means any premises, or any part of any premises, on
which liquor may legally be sold;
Loose cigarettes means cigarettes that are not contained in a package;
Loose tobacco means tobacco, prepared for smoking in hand rolled cigarettes
or in a pipe, which is not contained in a package, and includes products
known as “sului”, “tufaga” and “Irish cake”;
Manufacturer means any person that manufactures, fabricates, produces,
processes, packs and/or labels tobacco products, and includes any entity that
is associated with the manufacturer, including an entity that controls or is
controlled by the manufacturer, or that is controlled by the same entity that
controls the manufacturer;
Minister means the Minister of Health or designate;
Ministry means the Ministry of Health;
Other message means, in relation to messages on tobacco packaging, other
information relating to the social, economic, cultural or other effects of
tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke, or advice on avoidance of harms
associated with tobacco use or exposure;
Package means any container, wrapper, carton, or other enclosure that
contains any tobacco product or in which tobacco products are customarily
sold and includes the package’s label;
Person includes a natural person, a corporation sole, a body corporate, and an
unincorporated body;
Point of sale means a checkout where tobacco products may be bought; and
includes a till or cashbox, where tobacco products may be bought, even if it is
not at or part of a checkout;
Prescribed means required by regulations made under this Act;
Promote in relation to tobacco products or the activities of a seller, means
any act or practice that is intended or likely to encourage the purchase or use
of any tobacco product or brand or create a positive awareness of or
association with, a tobacco product, brand, manufacturer or seller;
Section 3 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 8
Public place means any place to which members of the general public or
segments of the general public ordinarily have access by express or implied
invitation, whether by payment or otherwise. Any place or part thereof used
primarily as a private residence shall not be considered a public place under
this Act;
Public transport vehicle means any form of transportation that carries
passengers for hire or reward, and includes buses, taxis and boats;
Publish means to —
(a) insert in any book, newspaper or other periodical publication printed,
published, or distributed in Tuvalu; or
(b) send to any person, by post or otherwise; or
(c) deliver to any person or leave upon premises in the occupation of any
person; or
(d) broadcast; or
(e) include in any film or video recording; or
(f) include in any disk for use with a computer; or
(g) disseminate by means of any other electronic medium; or
(h) distribute by any means; or
(i) display by way of a sign, notice, poster, or other means; or
(j) bring to the notice of the public in Tuvalu by any other means;
Restaurant means any premises, or any part of any premises, where the
principal business is the selling of meals or refreshments to the general public
for consumption on the premises, whether or not liquor is or may be sold on
those premises or that part of those premises; and includes any room or area
on a ship or train where meals or refreshments are provided for passengers to
consume;
Retailer means a person who sells tobacco products to consumers;
Secretary means the Secretary of Health or designate;
Sell includes —
(a) to barter or exchange; or
(b) to offer or expose for sale, barter or exchange; or
(c) to supply, or offer to supply, in circumstances in which the supplier
derives, or would derive, a direct or indirect pecuniary benefit; or
(d) to supply, or offer to supply, gratuitously but with a view to gaining or
maintaining customs, or otherwise with a view to commercial gain;
Seller means any person who sells any tobacco product or raw tobacco and
includes any manufacturer, wholesaler, importer, exporter, retailer, or other
distributor;
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 3
2008 Revised Edition
Page 9
Smoking means inhaling or exhaling the smoke from, or handling, a lighted
tobacco product;
Tobacco product means any product containing tobacco in any form, in an
amount that is more than an incidental ingredient or component, and that is
intended for human consumption and includes all parts and materials, such as
filters, rods, portion pouches, and similar matter, as applicable. The term
tobacco product excludes raw tobacco that has not been processed or prepared
for consumption;
Tobacco product advertisement is any writing, still or moving picture, sign,
symbol or other visual image, or any sounds, or any combination of 2 or more
of those things, that gives publicity to, or otherwise promotes or is intended to
promote either directly or indirectly;
(a) smoking; or
(b) the purchase or use of a tobacco product or a range of tobacco
products; or
(c) the whole or a part of a trade mark of goods that are or include tobacco
products; or
(d) the whole or a part of a design of articles that are or include tobacco
products; or
(e) the whole or a part of the name of a person;
(i) who is a manufacturer, importer or seller of tobacco
products; and
(ii) whose name appears on, or on the packaging of, some or all of
those products; or
(f) any other words (for example, the whole or a part of a brand name or
trade mark) or designs, or combination of words and designs, that are
closely associated with a tobacco product or a range of tobacco
products (whether also closely associated with other kinds of products);
Tobacco sponsorship means the public attribution, acknowledgment,
association or identification of a tobacco manufacturer, importer, seller,
brand, or product with, on, or in connection with;
(a) an entertainment, sporting, recreational, educational, cultural, or other
public event or work; or
(b) a person or team participating in such an event or work, including his or
her equipment, clothing, and accessories; or
(c) a service provided or contribution made by a tobacco manufacturer,
importer, or seller; or
(d) a building, institution, stadium, organisation or other entity that is not a
tobacco manufacturer, importer or seller;
Wholesaler means any person who buys tobacco products and re-sells them
to another seller;
Section 4 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 10
Workplace means any place in which employees, contractors, volunteers, or
other persons perform duties of employment or work and includes private
offices, common areas, and any other area that they generally use during the
course of their employment or work. Any place or part thereof that is used
primarily as a private residence shall not be considered a workplace under
this Act.
4 Prohibition on advertising
(1) No person shall publish, or arrange for any other person to publish, any
tobacco product advertisement in Tuvalu.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
5 Activities that are not tobacco product advertisements
The following shall not be considered to be tobacco product advertisements under
the Act —
(a) commentary, opinion, report, editorial, or political discourse related to
tobacco products or sellers so long as it is not made in exchange for
remuneration or other direct or indirect consideration from a seller or
any of its agents; and
(b) depiction of or reference to a tobacco product or brand made in any
artistic, literary, scientific, educational, or entertainment production,
performance, writing or other work so long as it is not done in whole or
part in exchange for remuneration or other direct or indirect
consideration from a seller or any of its agents.
6 Permitted activities
The prohibition in section 4 does not apply to —
(a) the display of a retailer’s name or trade name on the exterior of a
retailer’s place of business, in accordance with any regulations made
under this Act, even if that sign contains a word or phrase that relates to
tobacco products or to tobacco smoking, provided that that wording
does not include a reference to the name or trademark of a tobacco
product or tobacco company; or
(b) the placement, inside a retailer’s place of business, of price notices
indicating the tobacco products available for purchase within that place
and their prices, provided that these notices comply with any
regulations made under this Act in relation to their size, colour, content
and number, and the inclusion of a health message; or
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 7
2008 Revised Edition
Page 11
(c) the display of tobacco products inside a retailer’s place of business
provided that the display complies with any regulations made under this
Act; or
(d) commercial communications by persons in the tobacco growing,
manufacturing, importing, exporting, distribution, selling or trading
business directed solely at other persons in the tobacco growing,
manufacturing, importing, exporting, distribution, selling or trading
business; or
(e) a tobacco product advertisement contained in an imported newspaper,
book or magazine, or in a radio or television transmission or a data
message originating outside of Tuvalu or any film or video made
outside Tuvalu, unless —
(i) the principal purpose of the newspaper, book, magazine, radio or
television broadcast, data message, film or video recording is the
promotion of tobacco products or tobacco use; or
(ii) the newspaper, book, magazine, radio or television broadcast,
data message, film or video recording is targeted primarily at
Tuvalu.
7 ‘Smoking Kills’ signage at point of sale
(1) Every retailer of tobacco products must clearly display, in close proximity to
where tobacco products are displayed for sale, a sign with the words
‘Smoking Kills’, in English and Tuvaluan, printed —
(a) in dark coloured words on a white background; and
(b) in type that is clear and legible, and of such a size and boldness that,
subject to subsection 3 of this section, the words ‘Smoking Kills’ as
nearly as possible take up the full area of the sign.
(2) the sign must be at least the area of an A3 piece of paper.
(3) the sign may include the attribution ‘Ministry of Health Warning’ in English
and Tuvaluan, printed after the words ‘Smoking Kills’, provided that the print
size of the attribution is no greater than one half the print size of the words
‘Smoking Kills’.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
8 Prohibition against brand stretching
(1) For the purposes of this section, non-tobacco products include but are not
limited to such items as clothes, caps, bags, umbrellas, ashtrays, matches,
Section 9 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 12
lighters, coasters, dishes, sporting equipment, personal items, and similar
items.
(2) No person shall advertise, display for sale or distribution, sell, or distribute
any non-tobacco product that contains any writing, picture, image, graphic,
message, or other matter, in whole or part, that is commonly identified or
associated with, or is likely or intended to be identified or associated with a
tobacco product, brand, or seller.
(3) No person shall display any name, writing, picture, image, graphic, message,
or other matter, in whole or part, that is commonly identified or associated
with, or is likely or intended to be identified or associated with a tobacco
brand, or seller on a building, such as a club, restaurant, stadium or other
place which is not primarily a business that manufactures or sells tobacco
products.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
9 Prohibition against reverse brand stretching
(1) No person shall use the brand name, trademark or other sign, symbol, logo, or
similar visual matter, in whole or in part, commonly associated with a non-
tobacco product on a tobacco product.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) In the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
10 Tobacco sponsorships, scholarships, etc. prohibited
(1) No seller of tobacco products, or their agent, shall —
(a) organise or promote any organised activity, scholarship or other event
that is to take place, in whole or in part, in Tuvalu; or
(b) make any financial contribution towards any organised activity,
scholarship, or other event that is to take place, or is taking place, or has
taken place, in whole or in part, in Tuvalu; or
(c) make any financial contribution to any person in respect of —
(i) the organisation or promotion, by that person, of; or
(ii) the participation, by the person, in
any organised activity, scholarship or other event that is to take place,
or is taking place, or has taken place, in whole or in part, in Tuvalu,
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 11
2008 Revised Edition
Page 13
where that organised activity, scholarship or other event involves the use, in
the name of that activity, scholarship or other event, or on any article other
than a tobacco product, of a tobacco product trade mark, or of a company
name or any part of a company name included in that tobacco product trade
mark.
(2) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
11 Sale of tobacco products to people under 18 prohibited
(1) No person may sell a tobacco product to a person younger than 18 years of
age.
(2) Any person who wishes to sell a tobacco product to a person aged 18 years or
older must take reasonable precautions and exercise due diligence to establish
that a person who wishes to buy a tobacco product is 18 years of age or older.
(3) It shall be a defence to an offence under subsection (1) of this section if it is
shown that the purchaser presented a form of identification showing his or her
age and that there was no apparent reason to doubt the authenticity of the
document or that it was issued to the person producing it.
(4) Every person who sells by retail a tobacco product must display clearly for the
public a notice, in accordance with any regulations made under this Act,
stating that the sale of tobacco products to people who are younger than 18
years is prohibited.
(5) No person who is not the parent or guardian of a person under the age of 18
years may supply a tobacco product to that person under 18 years of age,
whether in exchange for payment or not.
(6) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
12 Confectionery and toy tobacco products prohibited
(1) No person shall manufacture or sell any product designed for or likely to
appeal to children or youth under the age of 18 years that evokes or is likely
to evoke an association with a tobacco product or brand, including but not
limited to candy cigarettes, toys in the shape of cigarettes or other tobacco
products, and similar products.
(2) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
Section 13 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 14
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
13 Sale of tobacco via vending machines and other methods of
unsupervised sales prohibited
(1) No person shall sell or offer to sell tobacco products through a vending
machine.
(2) Tobacco products may not be sold or furnished through the mail, or through
any means by which the age of the purchaser or recipient of the tobacco
product cannot be verified.
(3) Tobacco products may not be sold or offered for sale by means of a display
that permits a person to handle the tobacco product before paying for it.
(4) Every person who allows a tobacco product to be sold or offered for sale in
contravention of this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
14 Free distribution and rewards prohibited
(1) No seller of tobacco products may —
(a) distribute any tobacco product; or
(b) supply any tobacco product to any person for distribution; or
(c) in the case of a retailer, supply any tobacco product to any person for
the purpose of that retailer's business,
free of charge, or at a reduced charge.
(2) No person, in connection with the sale of a tobacco product, or for the
purpose of promoting the sale of a tobacco product, may supply to the
purchaser of a tobacco product or any other person —
(a) a prize, gift or other benefit; or
(b) a stamp, coupon, token, voucher, ticket or other thing by virtue of
which the purchaser or any other person may become entitled to, or
may qualify for a prize, gift or other benefit (whether the entitlement or
qualification is absolute or conditional); or
(c) any thing which, or a copy or facsimile of which, is a necessary
prerequisite to participation in, or is likely to confer an advantage in,
any game, contest or other activity in which a participant may become
entitled to, or may qualify for, a prize, gift, or other benefit (whether the
entitlement or qualification is absolute or conditional).
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 15
2008 Revised Edition
Page 15
(3) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
15 Controls on the content of tobacco products
(1) No person shall manufacture, import, export, sell or otherwise distribute any
tobacco product that does not comply with standards relating to the
manufacture of tobacco products prescribed by regulations made under
this Act.
(2) Regulations relating to the manufacture of tobacco products may be
made to —
(a) prescribe the amount of a substance that may be contained in tobacco
products or their emissions; and
(b) prescribe substances that may not be added to tobacco products; and
(c) prescribe product design standards to reduce the harmful effects of
tobacco products and to reduce their appeal to young people.
(3) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and
is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
16 Testing required
(1) This section applies to each product prescribed for the purposes of this section
by regulations under this Part.
(2) Every manufacturer and every importer of a product to which this section
applies must in each year conduct, in accordance with the regulations, and at
an overseas laboratory nominated by the Ministry, either or both of the
following (as the regulations require) —
(a) a test for the additives and/or constituents of each brand of the product
sold by the manufacturer or importer, and the respective quantities of
those additives and/or constituents;
(b) if the product is intended to be smoked, a test for the constituents of the
smoke of each brand of the product sold by the manufacturer or
importer, and the respective quantities of those constituents.
(3) If the regulations require it, each variant of the brand must be tested
separately.
Section 17 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 16
(4) In this section “product” means anything that is a tobacco product of any
kind.
(5) In addition to the annual test or tests required by subsection (2) of this section,
the Ministry may, by notice in writing to the manufacturer or importer of a
product to which that section applies, require a further test or tests to be
conducted.
(6) The further test or tests must be conducted, in accordance with the regulations
referred to in subsection (2) —
(a) in a laboratory nominated by the Ministry; and
(b) at the expense in all respects of the manufacturer or importer.
(7) In any year, the Ministry must not require further tests under subsection (5) in
respect of more than 10% of the brands of products to which subsection (2)
applies sold by a particular manufacturer or importer.
(8) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
17 Reports of constituents, additives, and certain business information
required
(1) Every manufacturer, importer, and exporter of tobacco products shall submit
to the Ministry on at least an annual basis, unless otherwise prescribed,
reports and returns containing the information specified in regulations made
under this Act.
(2) If required by regulations made under this Act, the information referred to in
subsection (1) of this section shall be made available to the public in the
manner prescribed by regulations made under this Act.
(3) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
18 Packaging and labelling requirements
(1) Subject to section 20 of this Act, no person shall sell, distribute, display for
sale or distribution, import or export, any tobacco product that is not packaged
and labelled in a manner that complies with all requirements of this Act and
with any regulations made under this Act.
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 19
2008 Revised Edition
Page 17
(2) Every unit packet and package of tobacco sold in Tuvalu, and any outside
packaging and labelling of such tobacco products, must carry a clear and
legible health message or messages.
(3) Any health messages applied to tobacco packets and packages in accordance
with subsection (2) must conform to any regulations made under this Act.
(4) Any regulations made under this Act must carry health messages that —
(a) are rotated so that a range of messages are displayed on all tobacco
brands and brand variants;
(b) are large, clear, visible and legible; and
(c) take up a minimum of 30 percent of the principal display areas of
tobacco packets and packages.
(5) Regulations may provide that every unit packet and package of tobacco sold
in Tuvalu must carry messages that are in the form of, or include, pictures or
pictograms.
(6) All tobacco products imported for sale or sold in Tuvalu must carry a clear
statement that the product is intended for sale in Tuvalu.
(7) Any message applied to tobacco products in accordance with subsection (4)
may be applied to a tobacco packet or package via a stamp or sticker,
provided that the message is not readily able to be removed, damaged or
obscured.
(8) Every person who imports tobacco products into Tuvalu in non-compliance
with subsections (1) to (7) of this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
19 Other acceptable standard may be adopted
(1) For the purpose of this section “substantially to the same effect” means
messages that at least meet the standards set out in subsections (4) and (6) of
section 18 and section 22.
(2) Notwithstanding section 18 of this Act, tobacco products that are packaged or
labelled substantially to the same effect as the requirements set out in
regulations made pursuant to this Act may be imported for sale.
(3) No person may rely on the exception provided in subsection (2) unless they
have written notification from the Secretary of Health stating that the
packaging and labelling of specified imported tobacco products is approved
by the Secretary of Health as being substantially to the same effect as the
packaging and labelling required by regulations.
Section 20 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 18
20 Constituent and additives disclosures required to be displayed on all
tobacco product packages
(1) No person shall sell, distribute, display for sale or distribution, import, or
export any tobacco product unless it has, permanently affixed on its package,
or permanently affixed to an individual wrapper in the case of a cigar, a
disclosure in the form and manner prescribed by regulations made under this
Act, relating to any or all of the following —
(a) a list of the product’s harmful constituents;
(b) the emissions of the product, as applicable;
(c) the product’s additives.
(2) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
21 Package inserts
(1) No person shall sell, distribute, import, or export any tobacco product unless
the product’s package contains a package insert displaying information,
including health messages, in the form and manner prescribed by regulations
made under the Act.
(2) Every person who fails to comply with this section commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
22 Misleading labelling prohibited
(1) No person shall package or label tobacco products in a manner that allows a
consumer or purchaser of tobacco products to be deceived or misled
concerning its characteristics, properties, toxicity, composition, merit or
safety.
(2) No person shall sell, distribute, or display for sale or distribution, import, or
export any tobacco product that displays any words, terms, markings or other
identifiers on its package or label that are prescribed by regulations as being
misleading.
(3) Any requirements arising from subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not
relieve a manufacturer, importer or retailer of tobacco products of other
obligations or liabilities arising from other applicable legal norms to warn
consumers of the risks of using tobacco products.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 23
2008 Revised Edition
Page 19
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $1,000;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $300.
23 Smoking in public places and workplaces prohibited
(1) For the purposes of this section, and sections 24, 25, 26, 26A, 27, 28, 31, 30
and 31 of this Act, an indoor or enclosed area of a public place, workplace or
vehicle means an area within or on the premises or vehicle that, when all its
doors, windows, and other closeable openings are closed, is completely or
substantially enclosed by —
(a) a ceiling, roof or similar overhead surface; and
(b) walls, sides, screens or other similar surfaces; and
(c) those openings.
(2) Subject to sections 24, 26 and 27 of this Act, no person in charge of a
premises shall permit smoking to take place in any indoor or enclosed area of
a public place or workplace, or in any part of any indoor or enclosed area of a
public place or workplace.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, but subject to subsection (4) of
this section, where only one person works in an indoor or enclosed area of a
workplace, and that person wishes to smoke, smoking may be permitted in all
areas of that workplace except areas to which the public normally has access.
(4) Subject to section 27, no person in charge of any Government owned or
operated building or facility may allow smoking in that building or facility.
(5) No person may smoke in any area of any workplace or public place where
smoking is prohibited under this Act.
(6) Any person in charge of a Government building or facility who contravenes
this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
24 Smoking in restaurants until 31 May 2009
(1) Notwithstanding section 24 of this Act, where, in any restaurant, there is only
1 indoor or enclosed area set aside for the consumption of food by patrons, the
restaurateur shall ensure that —
(a) at least 50% of the seating in that area is designated for persons who do
not wish to smoke, and shall prominently display signs accordingly;
and
(b) such designated seating, so far as is reasonably practicable, is separate
from the seating where smoking is permitted; and
Section 25 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 20
(c) no person smokes in seating designated for persons who do not wish to
smoke.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, where, in any restaurant, there is
more than 1 indoor or enclosed area set aside for the consumption of food by
patrons, the restaurateur may designate 1 of those areas for patrons who wish
to smoke.
(3) Where, in any restaurant, there is more than 1 indoor or enclosed area set
aside for the consumption of food by patrons, the restaurateur shall ensure
that —
(a) at least 50% of the seating in that restaurant is designated for persons
who do not wish to smoke, and shall prominently display signs
accordingly; and
(b) ensure that no person smokes in that area so designated.
(4) No person shall smoke in any restaurant in seating designated for persons who
do not wish to smoke.
(5) Where, in any premises or any part of any premises, or on any ship or train,
more than 1 indoor or enclosed area is used as a restaurant, and 1 or more of
those areas, or any combination of them, is treated as a separate restaurant by
reason that it caters for a different category of patron, or offers a different type
of meal or refreshment or a different type of service, the provisions of this
section shall apply, in respect of each such indoor or enclosed area or, as the
case may be, each such combination of them so treated, as if it were a separate
restaurant.
(6) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
25 Smoking in restaurants from 1 June 2009
(1) Restaurateurs must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that no
person smokes at any time in any indoor or enclosed area in any restaurant
which they operate.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent restaurateurs from prohibiting smoking in a
part of the restaurant that is an open area.
(3) No person may smoke at any time in any part of a restaurant that is an indoor
or enclosed area.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 26
2008 Revised Edition
Page 21
26 Smoking in licensed premises until 31 May 2009
(1) Notwithstanding sections 23 and 24 of this Act, but subject to subsection (2)
of this section, where, in any premises, any indoor or enclosed area is set
aside primarily for the consumption of liquor by patrons, the operator of a
licensed premises may permit smoking in that area.
(2) Where, in any such indoor or enclosed area, seating is set aside for the
consumption of meals by patrons, the operator of the licensed premises shall
ensure that —
(a) at least 50% of that seating is designated for persons who do not wish
to smoke, and shall prominently display signs accordingly; and
(b) such designated seating, so far as is reasonably practicable, is separate
from the seating where smoking is permitted; and
(c) no person smokes in seating designated for persons who do not wish to
smoke.
(3) No person shall smoke in any licensed premises in seating designated for
persons who do not wish to smoke.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
26A Smoking on licensed premises from 1 June 2009
(1) The operator of any licensed premises must take all reasonably practicable
steps to ensure that no person smokes at any time in a part of the premises that
is an indoor or enclosed area.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the operator of any licensed premises from
prohibiting smoking in a part of the premises that is an open area.
(3) No person may smoke at any time in a part of any licensed premises that is an
indoor or enclosed area.
(4) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
27 Smoking in certain institutions
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no owner or operator of a place
where health care services are rendered shall permit smoking in that place.
(2) An owner or operator of a place where health care services are rendered may
permit smoking to take place in a designated area of that place, provided
that —
Section 28 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 22
(a) no person is required to undertake his or her usual work duties in that
designated area or in close proximity to that area; and
(b) the smoke from the designated area does not adversely affect any
indoor or enclosed place.
(3) The person in charge of any prison shall designate an outdoor area where
smoking is permitted in that prison.
(4) Subject to subsection 5 of this section, no owner or operator of an educational
facility shall permit smoking in that facility.
(5) An owner or operator of an educational facility may permit employees of that
facility to smoke in a designated area of that facility, provided that —
(a) no person is required to undertake his or her usual work duties in that
designated area or in close proximity to that area; and
(b) the smoke from the designated area does not adversely affect any
indoor or enclosed place nearby.
(6) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
28 No smoking signs required
(1) The person in charge of any indoor or enclosed area of a public place or
workplace where smoking is not permitted under this Act shall post signs
prominently in that place or workplace stating that smoking is not permitted.
(2) The signs required by subsection 1 of this section must comply with any
requirements set out in regulations made under this Act.
(3) Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $300;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
29 No smoking on public transport vehicles
(1) No person shall smoke in any indoor or enclosed area of a public transport
vehicle.
(2) The owner or operator of a public transport vehicle shall ensure that signs are
posted on the vehicle notifying the passengers that smoking is prohibited.
(3) Any person who contravenes sub-section 2 commits an offence and is
liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 30
2008 Revised Edition
Page 23
30 Smoking in aircraft
(1) No person shall smoke any tobacco product in an aircraft that is carrying
members of the public on any journey beginning or ending in Tuvalu.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable
to a fine not exceeding $150.
(3) Any person who allows a person to smoke in contravention of sub-section (1)
commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
31 Obligations of owners or operators of premises and owners or
operators of public transport vehicles or aircraft
(1) The owner or operator of any public place or workplace, or their agents and
employees, and the owner or operator of any public transport vehicles or
aircraft and their agents and employees shall take all reasonable steps to
ensure that no person smokes in violation of the provisions of this Act.
(2) In addition to posting required signs, taking reasonable steps includes, but is
not limited to —
(a) asking an offending person to stop smoking;
(b) requiring an offending person who continues to smoke to leave the
premises and in the case of a public transport vehicle to leave the
vehicle at the next scheduled stop;
(c) seeking the assistance of law enforcement personnel in cases where the
offending person refuses to stop smoking or leave the premises or
vehicle.
(3) No employer, public place owner or operator, or public transport vehicle
owner or operator shall retaliate against any employee or person who asserts
his or her right to a smoke-free environment or who reports any violation of
the provisions of this Act.
(4) Any person who contravenes the requirements of subsection (1) or (3) of this
section commits an offence and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
32 Appointment of Enforcement Officers
(1) The Ministry may authorise any person to exercise and carry out the functions
and powers of an Enforcement Officer under this Act.
Section 33 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 24
(2) The Ministry shall supply every Enforcement Officer with a warrant, and that
warrant shall clearly state the functions and powers that the person concerned
has been authorised to exercise and carry out under the Act.
(3) Every Enforcement Officer who exercises or purports to exercise any power
conferred on him or her shall have with him or her, and shall produce if
required to do so, his or her warrant and evidence of his or her identity.
(4) Every Enforcement Officer who holds a warrant issued under this section
shall, on the termination of his or her appointment, surrender the warrant to
the Ministry.
33 Inspection and investigative powers of Enforcement Officers
(1) Those Enforcement Officers appointed under section 32 of this Act shall have
the following powers —
(a) provided that the place is not a dwelling house or other residential
accommodation, to enter the premises of any place where tobacco is
manufactured, sold, transported, received, distributed, packaged, or
otherwise found or likely to be found or have been present, and to enter
any public place, including a workplace, to conduct inspections or
investigations at any time during business or operating hours of a
workplace or at any other reasonable or necessary time;
(b) to examine, open, and test any equipment, tools, materials, packages or
anything the officer reasonably believes is used or capable of being
used for the manufacture, packaging, labelling, storage, distribution,
display, advertising or promotion of tobacco products;
(c) to examine any operation or process carried out on the premises;
(d) to examine and make copies of or from any books, documents, notes,
files, including electronic files, or other records the officer reasonably
believes might contain information relevant to determining compliance
with this Act or with regulations made under this Act;
(e) to interview or question any licensee or other person involved in
selling, advertising or promoting, manufacturing, importing, exporting,
growing, transporting, packaging, or distributing tobacco products, any
owner of the premises, or any person using the premises, and his or her
employees, agents, contractors and workers, all of whom must
cooperate fully and truthfully with any inspection or investigation;
(f) to take samples of tobacco or tobacco products or components of
products anywhere they are found and have them tested;
(g) to seize and detain, or order the storage without removal or alteration of
any tobacco or tobacco product where ever they may be found, the
officer reasonably believes does not comply with the requirements of
the Act or regulations made under the Act, upon providing the licensee
or owner of the tobacco products, or if he or she is unavailable, any
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 34
2008 Revised Edition
Page 25
other person on the place where the tobacco products are located,
written notice of the seizure and detention and the grounds for it;
(h) to seize and detain and dispose of any tobacco product being sold by a
person in a manner which contravenes the requirements of the Act.
(2) If any tobacco product that is seized and detained by an Enforcement Officer
is subsequently determined to meet the requirements of the Act or regulations
made under the Act, it shall be returned immediately to the place from which
it was seized.
(3) If any tobacco product that has been seized or detained is determined not to
meet the requirements of the Act or of the regulations made under the Act, it
may be confiscated and destroyed or subject to other disposal, as ordered by a
court.
(4) A member of the police may accompany an Enforcement Officer exercising
powers under this section.
(5) Subsection (1) of this section does not prevent an Enforcement Officer from
entering a dwelling house or other residential accommodation —
(a) under authority given by or under an enactment other than this Act; or
(b) with the consent of an occupier, only to the extent necessary for, the
following purposes —
(i) finding out whether this Act or regulations made under the Act is
being complied with in and in respect of the place entered;
(ii) finding out the extent to which this Act is not being complied
with in or in respect of the place entered.
(6) A person commits an offence if they threaten, assault or intentionally obstruct
or hinder an Enforcement Officer who is acting in the exercise or performance
of his or her powers under this section and is liable —
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $500;
(b) in the case of an individual to a fine not exceeding $150.
34 Duties of Enforcement Officers
(1) An Enforcement Officer exercising powers under this Act must identify
himself or herself as an Enforcement Officer to the person who appears to be
in charge of any premises where the officer intends to exercise his or her
powers; .
(2) If asked to do so, the Enforcement Officer must produce evidence of identity
and his or her warrant issued under section 32.
Section 36 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 26
35 Liability for the actions of agents or employees
(1) Any act or omission on behalf of a body corporate or other person (both
called “the principal”) by a director, agent, or employee (each called “the
agent”) of the principal is to be treated for the purposes of this Act as being
also the act or omission of the principal.
(2) Despite subsection (1) of this section, where a principal is charged under this
Act in relation to the act or omission of an agent for an offence, it is a good
defence to the charge if the principal proves that the principal took all
reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the offence or the commission
of offences of that kind.
36 Additional penalties
(1) In addition to the penalties for offences specified in this Act, the following
penalties may be imposed, singly or in combination, for any violation —
(a) licence suspension, revocation, or limitation, as applicable, for any
violation;
(b) removal of the offending person from the premises or public transport
vehicle and confiscation and forfeiture of any tobacco product smoked
in violation of the provisions of sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 26A, 27, 29
and 30;
(c) confiscation and forfeiture of —
(i) equipment, machinery, materials, and related items used to
publish, broadcast, display, or otherwise disseminate any
advertisement or promote a tobacco product in violation of
section 4;
(ii) any tobacco product packaged or labelled in a manner that does
not conform to the requirements of sections 18, 19, 20, 21, and
22, wherever they may be located and regardless of the
knowledge or intent of the person who owns or possesses such
products;
(iii) any and all tobacco products owned by or under the control of
the person found to have committed a violation of sections 9, 13,
and 14, wherever located and regardless of the knowledge or
intent of the person who owns or possesses such products;
(iv) equipment, machinery, raw materials, components, and any items
used to manufacture or pack tobacco products in violation of
section 15.
(2) For any continuing violation, each day the violation continues shall constitute
a separate offence.
(3) Compounded penalties shall be assessed for repeat violations.
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 37
2008 Revised Edition
Page 27
(4) Where any person derived any monetary or financial benefit from any act or
omission that constitutes a violation under this Act or implementing
regulations, all monies so gained shall be forfeited in addition to any other
penalty imposed.
37 Enforcement cost recovery
Any person found to have violated any requirement under this Act or implementing
regulations may be ordered to pay the reasonable costs associated with any
inspection, investigation, and enforcement action brought about by the non-
compliance.
38 Regulations
The Minister may make such regulations as are contemplated by this Act or as are
necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act for all or any of the following
purposes —
(a) prescribing information, documents, forms, certificates, notices, leaflets,
signs, displays, particulars, and notifications, and the persons by whom and
the persons to whom any such information, documents, forms, certificates,
notices, leaflets, signs, displays, particulars, and notifications are to be
supplied;
(b) prescribing records and registers for the purposes of the Act; prescribing the
manner in which and the period during which any such records and registers
are to be kept; and prescribing the persons to whom, and the conditions on
which, any such records and registers may be available for searching,
inspection, and copying;
(c) prescribing the size, colour, content and number of price notices permitted to
be displayed inside retail outlets, and the inclusion of a health message on
those notices;
(d) prescribing the manner by which tobacco products may be displayed inside
retail outlets;
(e) prescribing the size, colour, content and location for the notice required by
subsection 4 of section 11;
(f) prescribing requirements for the purpose of section 18;
(g) prescribing the form, size, and content of information (including information
about additives and constituents) and the health messages to be displayed
with, on, or in packages of, tobacco products; and prescribing the
circumstances and manner in which the information and messages are to be so
displayed, including —
Section 38 CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 28
(i) requiring tobacco products sold or offered for sale to display a
photograph or picture intended to have effect as a warning
relating to the effects of their use on health; and
(ii) requiring a package insert, in a prescribed form, to be placed
inside packages of tobacco products sold or offered for sale;
(h) prescribing the information that may not be displayed on tobacco packaging;
(i) prescribing the form, size, colour and content of No smoking signs in
workplaces, public places and public transportation as contemplated in
section 28;
(j) establishing standards for the manufacture of tobacco products, including —
(i) prescribing the amount of substances that may be contained in
the product or its emissions; and
(ii) prescribing substances that may not be added to tobacco
products; and
(iii) prescribing product design standards to reduce the harmful
effects of tobacco products and to reduce their appeal to young
people;
(k) prescribing what products must be tested for the purposes of section 16 of
this Act;
(l) prescribing the method of determining the additives and/or constituents of
tobacco products and the constituents of smoke produced from their
combustion;
(m) requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products conducting tests
for the constituents, and the respective quantities of those constituents of each
brand sold by that manufacturers or importers to test each variant of the brand
separately;
(n) requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products conducting tests
for the constituents, and the respective quantities of those constituents, in the
smoke of each brand of the product sold by the manufacturers or importers
that is intended to be smoked, to test each variant of the brand separately;
(o) prescribing the form and manner in which returns and reports are to be filed
under section 17 of this Act;
(p) requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to file with the
Ministry returns showing all additives used in the manufacture of the tobacco
products sold by that manufacturer or importer;
(q) requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to file with the
Ministry returns showing by brand variant —
(i) the weight of tobacco (or the weight of tobacco and of each
additive) used in the manufacture of the tobacco products sold by
the manufacturer or importer; and
Tobacco Control Act CAP. 28.14 Section 38
2008 Revised Edition
Page 29
(ii) the quantity of each variant of a brand of tobacco product sold by
the manufacturer or importer; and
(iii) the recommended price of each variant of a brand of tobacco
product sold by the manufacturer or importer during the previous
year;
(r) requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to the
public any information they are required under regulations made under this
Act to disclose to the Ministry and the manner by which this disclosure shall
take place;
(s) identifying any words, terms, markings or other identifiers that are deemed as
misleading for the purposes of section 22 of this Act;
(t) providing for such other matters as are contemplated by or necessary for
giving full effect to the provisions of this Act or its due administration.
ENDNOTES CAP. 28.14 Tobacco Control Act
2008 Revised Edition Page 30
ENDNOTES
1 Act 8 of 2008
2 In force on publication, but –
Sections 25 and 26B of this Act came into force on 1 June 2009, and sections 24 and 26 of
this Act shall ceased to have effect at midnight on 31 May 2009.
