On Monday, 6 August 2018, the Plain Packaging Decree was signed by President Tabaré Vázquez to advance the implementation of the neutral or generic labelling of cigarette boxes. Uruguay is following in the footsteps of other countries who have introduced plain or standardized packaging such as Australia, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The measure will come into force after a six months transition period.

Generic labelling is introduced as a measure to support implementation of Articles 11 and 13 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

The Ministry of Health is still to specify details regarding colour, shape, size, text, etc., as authorized and mandated by the Decree. On the boxes, regulations will be placed on all references (marks on the interior and exterior of the products), a single color (brown) will be used, and a standard size and location of the letters will be put in place. Health warnings will occupy 80% of the boxes.

When the decree goes into force, Uruguay may be the first country in the American region to implement this measure.

Reference:

Details of the Decree are available at the following link:

https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2018/decretos/08/cons_min_686.pdf (in Spanish).