We have updated this page in line with new tobacco legislation. Find out more about the new laws, including when they take effect and how they will affect you.
About the requirements
The tobacco product and packaging requirements are set out in the:
- Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 (the Act)
- Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Regulations 2024.
Tobacco products
Under the Act, tobacco products must:
- not display any prohibited terms or other marks (besides those permitted under the legislation, such as on-product health messages for cigarettes that contain a filter)
- comply with the size and design requirements set out in the legislation
- comply with any performance and testing requirements
- not contain any prohibited ingredients or prohibited devices.
'Tobacco product’ means processed tobacco in any form, and any products (besides e‑cigarettes) that contain tobacco as an ingredient.
Tobacco packaging
The retail packaging of tobacco products must:
- be the colour known as Pantone 448C
- include (if required) a health promotion insert
- display the required text and health warnings
- display brand names and variant names in certain ways
- not display logos, brand images or promotional text.
Why the requirements are important
The product and packaging requirements aim to improve public health in Australia by:
- discouraging smoking and the use of tobacco products
- increasing consumer knowledge of health effects relating to use of tobacco products.
They do this by:
- preventing packaging from misleading or deceiving consumers about the harmful effects of smoking or using tobacco products
- reducing the appeal of tobacco products
- reducing product differentiation and appeal to different market segments.
These requirements apply if you sell, offer to sell, supply, package or manufacture tobacco products in Australia. Even if your tobacco products for sale are not visible to the public, they must still meet the requirements.
How to meet the laws
If you need help understanding or meeting the tobacco product and packaging laws, read our guides and resources.
Tobacco control resources
Find out more about:
How we enforce the laws
To administer and enforce the Act we:
- inform the community about tobacco laws
- keep the legislation up to date
- guide and educate tobacco companies and suppliers on how to meet the laws.
Make a complaint
If you think a tobacco product or package is in breach of the Act, use the complaint form to report it to us.
We:
- consider all complaints
- assess each complaint and prioritise it based on risk
- do not provide updates on the progress or outcome of a complaint.
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