Saudi Arabia tightens tobacco sale rules: What's banned and what's not

Cairo: Saudi Arabia has tightened requirements for shops dealing in tobacco products with the aim of promoting public health and protecting non-smokers and children from the marketing of tobacco.

The requirements set by the Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing stipulate that all tobacco products and their derivatives comply with the standards approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and obligate their stores not to possess or display goods of unknown origin or containing misleading information.

Other stipulations include selling cigarettes in a sealed package, banning sale by the piece, and prohibiting cuts in the prices of tobacco or any of its derivatives, or offering it as part of promotional offers for free as gifts, prizes or in the form of samples.

What's banned

Also banned is importing, selling or offering any product that carries advertising for tobacco and its derivatives.

Likewise, selling or displaying tobacco products, which contain raw or manufactured tobacco or any of their derivatives in their composition, inside vending machines is banned too.

Tobacco stores are, moreover, required to display a warning sign for consumers in line with the forms approved by the National Committee for Combating Tobacco.

The sign must feature an expressive image of the harms of smoking, and a warning phrase stating that smoking and tobacco products are a major cause of the mouth and lung cancers, and heart diseases.

Additionally, the store is obligated to display a sign declaring a ban on the entry or selling tobacco products to those under the age of 18.