Guidance on Color Warnings of Electronic Vapor Products/Heat

A. Size

1. GHW shall be printed on at least fifty percent (50%) of the principal display surface of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine product or novel tobacco product packaging, whether primary or secondary packaging.

2. It shall occupy at least fifty percent (50%) of the front and at least fifty percent (50%) of the back.
 

b. location

GHW should be located on the lower part of the panel or main display area.

c. Visibility
 

1. No part of the warnings shall be obliterated, obscured, folded, cut off, or rendered unreadable when the package is opened or closed or when the wrapper or wrapper on the package is removed.

2. Nothing shall be printed or applied in a location where it may obscure or cover some or all of the GHW.
 

D. Color and printing quality

1. GHW shall be printed in four colors/-cmyk- at 133 lines per screen inch based on a 300 dpi source file.

2. Printing of GHW shall be carried out using available technology to provide vivid and realistic pictures.

3. During the entire life cycle of the product, under the normal conditions of transportation, storage, sale and use, the printing should be legible.

4. GHW should be as clear, vivid and colorful as the rest of the packaging. The quality of any ink used to print the GHW shall not fade, bleed or change the appearance of the warning over time.

5. Printing must not contain any features intended to modify the warning, including but not limited to heat-activated inks, inks or embellishments designed to appear gradually over time, or inks that fluoresce under certain lighting conditions.

6. GHWs shall be printed without any borders, frames, cropping, distortion or any other design which would effectively reduce the size of the warning, reduce its clarity and vividness or alter its appearance.

7. The GHW shall be printed or inscribed on the package in a color that contrasts with the background of the package or its label, as specified in this guidance and template.

8. GHW shall be reproduced in the quality, color and scale of the template or digital form provided by DOH, whichever is clearer and more vivid, without modification.
 

E. Text Warnings

Text warnings accompanying photographic images must not exceed 20% of the GHW and should appear in legible typeface and contrast through typography, layout and color without the use of any borders, frames or any other effective design to reduce the size of the text warning.

1. For products containing nicotine, such as vaporized nicotine products, HTPs and NTPs: "This product is harmful and contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. It is not recommended for use by nonsmokers."

and/or "Mapananib ang produktong ito at naglalaman ng nicotine na lubhang nakaaadik. Ipinapayong huwag itong gamitin ng mga hindi naninigarilyo."

2. For nicotine-free products, such as vaporized non-nicotine products: "This product may contain a substance that is harmful. It is not recommended for use by nonsmokers." and/or "Maaaring naglalaman ng mapanganib na sangkap ang produktong ito. Ipinapayong huwag itong gamitin ng mga hindi naninigarilyo."
 

F. language

Text warnings accompanying photographic images shall be printed in Filipino on the front panel and in English on the back panel, as provided in this Decree. For other containers having only one outer surface area, the accompanying text shall be printed alternately in English or Tagalog.
 

G. Side panels

Packaging of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or novel tobacco products marketed shall carry additional health warnings, hotlines and/or smoking cessation websites on one side panel prominently without the use of any borders, frames or Any other design that would effectively reduce the size of the text warning. Such information shall occupy thirty percent (30%) of the display area of one side panel.
 

H. Misleading descriptions

1. The packaging of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or novel tobacco products shall not have any numbers or descriptors, or other symbols, marks or terms, such as but not limited to "low tar", "ultra light", "clean", " "Fine," "Leading," "Supreme," "Gentle," "Extra," "Ultra," and similar terms, that claim or mislead consumers into believing that Vapor products, HTP, and other similar products or variations are healthier, safer, Less harmful or approved for use as a smoking cessation device, unless otherwise approved by FDA for such use. The Department of Health shall not approve any GHW bearing any such number or description on the packaging of vapor products, HTP, and novel tobacco products Proposals, testimonials or other submissions.

2. Vaping nicotine and non-nicotine products or novel tobacco products shall not have medicinal or therapeutic claims on their marketing materials or packaging unless such claims are FDA-approved under RA No. 9711. Vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or novel tobacco products should not have explicit risk reduction claims unless authorized by FDA under the IRR at RA 11900 Section 24.

3. The packaging of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or novel tobacco products must not bear any flavor descriptions that are proven to be unduly attractive to minors. A flavor is considered inappropriately appealing to minors if it contains references to fruit, candy brands, desserts, or cartoon characters.

 

Applicability of Graphical Health Warnings

All manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products are subject to the requirements in this order. At the end of the effective period (May 2024) of DOH Executive Order 2021-0054, "First Set of Vapor Graphical Warning Templates," the new first set of GHW templates will become fully effective on May 12, 2024.

 

A. SUMMARY OF PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS BY PRODUCT COMPOSITION

GHW Size	The whole circumference of the bottle mainly displays 50% of the surface, and the height is measured from the bottom of the bottle cap
GHW position	Lower part of the main display panel
GH Visibility	GHW is neither blurry nor covered
GHW Color and Print Quality	Four color/- cmyk -/screen 133 lines per English 300 dpi source file The GHW should be clear, readable, vivid and vibrant. GHW shall not fade, bleed or modify the appearance of the warning over time. The warning characteristics are not modified over time There are no borders, frames, clipping, twisting, or any other design that reduces the size of the GHW.
GHW Language	Can be in Filipino or English
Misleading description	No misleading description or statement It shall not contain any description that proves to be inappropriately attractive to minors, including fruit, candy brands, desserts or cartoon characters

 

ii. For bottles whose cap color is not pure black, white or brown, it is used for advertising or promotion purposes, including but not limited to using brand color or providing brand information