Israel Strengthens Tobacco and Smoking Products Regulations with Health Warnings and Marketing Restrictions

Israel has implemented stricter controls on tobacco and smoking products through comprehensive health warnings and marketing restrictions, affecting all major tobacco categories including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco

Compliance Overview: Israel’s Stricter Controls on Tobacco and Smoking Products

Israel has significantly strengthened its regulatory framework for tobacco and smoking products through the Ninth Amendment of the Law Prohibiting Advertising and Restricting the Marketing of Tobacco and Smoking Products, 5743-1983 (hereafter, the Law) and its implementing regulations. The new measures impose stringent health warning requirements and marketing restrictions on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. Below is a structured analysis of the key compliance obligations, timelines, and enforcement authorities.

Regulation Analysis

1. Legal Framework and Scope

The primary legal instruments governing these controls are:

• Law Prohibiting Advertising and Restricting the Marketing of Tobacco and Smoking Products, 5743-1983 (as amended by the Ninth Amendment, published 27 March 2024)¹.
• Regulations Prohibiting Advertising and Restricting the Marketing of Tobacco and Smoking Products (Health Warnings), 5785-2025 (hereafter, the Regulations)^{2, 1}.
• Order Restricting the Advertising and Marketing of Tobacco Products (Change in Warning Wording) (Amendment), 5785-2025³.

The Regulations apply to all tobacco and smoking products, including but not limited to:

• Cigarettes (HS 2402)
• Cigars (HS 2402)
• Smokeless tobacco (HS 2403)
• Other smoking products (e.g., rolling tobacco, pipe tobacco)¹.

2. Key Compliance Requirements

A. Health Warnings on Packaging

The Regulations mandate graphic and textual health warnings on all tobacco product packaging, covering:

1. Content:
   • Textual warnings: Predefined wording (e.g., "Smoking kills," "Smoking causes cancer")¹.
   • Graphic warnings: A database of images illustrating the harms of smoking and passive smoking, matched to the textual warnings¹.
   • Design specifications: Warnings must include instructions, size, shape, and location on the packaging¹.
2. Placement:
   • Warnings must occupy at least 65% of the principal display areas (front and back) of the packaging¹.
   • The Minister of Health, with Knesset Economics Committee approval, determines the exact images, wording, and placement¹.
3. Rotation:
   • Health warnings must be rotated periodically (frequency to be specified by the Minister of Health)¹.

B. Marketing and Advertising Restrictions

The Law and Regulations prohibit all advertising and marketing of tobacco products, with limited exceptions (e.g., point-of-sale displays under strict conditions)¹. Key restrictions include:

• Ban on promotional activities: No sponsorships, giveaways, or branded merchandise¹.
• Plain packaging: Packaging must be standardized (e.g., no logos, brand colors, or promotional text)¹.
• Digital and media restrictions: No tobacco advertising on television, radio, print media, or online platforms¹.

C. Transition and Compliance Timeline

• Grace period: Manufacturers may comply with the Regulations voluntarily from the publication date (2 July 2025) but must fully adhere by 2 August 2026².
• Warning rotation: The first set of health warnings (Set 1) will remain in use until the end of the year following the Regulations’ commencement (i.e., 31 December 2027)¹.

D. Enforcement and Penalties

• Non-compliance: Marketing tobacco products without the required health warnings is prohibited under Section 9C1 of the Law¹.
• Penalties: Violations may result in fines, product seizures, or criminal liability (specific penalties not detailed in the provided sources)¹.
• Enforcement authority: The Ministry of Health and Knesset Economics Committee oversee implementation and compliance¹.

3. Procedural Notes

1. Public Consultation:
   • The draft Regulations were open for public comments until 25 March 2025¹, with an extended deadline to 23 April 2025^{4, 3}.
2. Replacement of Prior Rules:
   • The Regulations replace previous health warning provisions under the Order Restricting the Advertising and Marketing of Tobacco Products, which will be repealed simultaneously¹.
3. Access to Final Text:
   • The full text of the Regulations is available at:

²(https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2025/TBT/ISR/final_measure/25_04495_00_x.pdf)².

Summary Answer

Israel’s Regulations Prohibiting Advertising and Restricting the Marketing of Tobacco and Smoking Products (Health Warnings), 5785-2025, enforce mandatory graphic and textual health warnings on all tobacco product packaging, covering at least 65% of principal display areas¹. The Regulations ban all advertising and marketing of tobacco products, including digital and promotional activities, and require plain packaging¹. Compliance is voluntary from 2 July 2025 but becomes mandatory on 2 August 2026². The Ministry of Health, with Knesset approval, determines warning content, rotation schedules, and enforcement¹. The Regulations replace prior rules and align with the Ninth Amendment of the Law Prohibiting Advertising and Restricting the Marketing of Tobacco and Smoking Products, 5743-1983¹. For transitional details, see the Order Restricting the Advertising and Marketing of Tobacco Products (Amendment), 5785-2025³.

Sources

1. ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Israel – Regulations prohibiting advertising and restricting the marketing of tobacco and smoking products (health warnings) https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/ISR1388.pdf&Open=True
2. ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Israel – Tobacco and smoking products – Addendum https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/ISR1388A4.pdf&Open=True
3. ↩ Order Restricting the Advertising and Marketing of Tobacco Products (Change in Warning Wording) (Amendment), 5785-2025 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/ISR1387A1.pdf&Open=True
4. ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Israel – Regulations prohibiting advertising and restricting the marketing of tobacco and smoking products (health warnings) – Addendum https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN25/ISR1388A1.pdf&Open=True