S.L. 315.10 Art. 10Labelling and packaging: combined health warnings for tobacco products for smoking.

(1) Each unit packet and any outside packaging of tobacco products for smoking shall carry combined health warnings. The combined health warnings shall:

(a) contain one graphic chosen from the set of graphical warnings contained in Schedule 1 specified for the production year during which the pack is produced. For the purpose of these regulations:

(i) the set of graphic contained in Part 1 of Schedule 1 is specified for the production year 2016-2017 and every third production year thereafter;

(ii) the set of graphic contained in Part 2 of Schedule 1 is specified for the production year 2017-2018 and every third production year thereafter;

(iii) the set of graphic contained in Part 3 of Schedule 1 is specified for the production year 2018-2019 and every third production year thereafter;

(iv) "Production year" means a period of twelve (12) months beginning on 20th May and ending on 19th May;

(b) include the following smoking cessation information "Tobacco Stop Line: 80073333; Website: health.gov.mt";

(c) cover 65% of both the external front and back surface of the unit packet and any outside packaging. Cylindrical packets shall display two combined health warnings, equidistant from each other, each covering 65% of their respective half of the curved surface;

(d) show the same graphic on both sides of the unit packets and any outside packaging;

(e) appear at the top edge of a unit packet and any outside packaging, and be positioned in the same direction as any other information appearing on that surface of the packaging. Transitional exemptions apply as follows:

(i) in those cases where the tax stamp or national identification mark used for fiscal purposes is affixed at the top edge of a unit packet made of carton material, the combined health warning that is to appear on the back surface may be positioned directly below the tax stamp or national identification mark;

(ii) where a unit packet is made of soft material, a rectangular area is to be reserved for the tax stamp of a height not exceeding 13 mm between the top edge of the packet and the top end of the combined health warnings. The exemptions referred to in sub-paragraphs (i) and

(ii) shall apply for a period of three years from 20 May