The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) is implementing a robust enforcement of tobacco product surveillance to ensure compliance with the mandatory Health Warning Standards for the Labelling of Tobacco Products – SLNS 27:2016.
To achieve this, the SLBS has ramped up its market surveillance activities across the island.
A spokesperson from SLBS stated that this initiative is critical for safeguarding public health and ensuring that all tobacco products on the market meet regulatory standards.
Under SLNS 27:2016, graphic health warnings are absolutely required on every individual tobacco product package. The standard mandates the use of two distinct sets of health warnings—Set A and Set B—each consisting of eight explicit warning messages.
These details are outlined in Annexes A, B, and C of the standard, which can be accessed at www.slbs.org.
To ensure maximum visibility and effectiveness, the sets will be rotated according to the following schedule:
– Set B will be used exclusively from June 1st of every calendar year ending in an odd number (e.g., 2025) until January of the following even-numbered year.
– Starting in February of the even-numbered year, Set A will be reintroduced while Set B is withdrawn.
– By June of the even-numbered year, the rotation will revert to Set A exclusively.
As of June 2025, it will be illegal for Set A warnings to appear on any tobacco products sold in the United States.
Additionally, any tobacco products that do not contain graphic health warnings are strictly prohibited from sale.
Retailers who may have inadvertently stocked products labeled with Set A warnings must immediately coordinate with their distributors for an exchange to obtain products labeled with Set B warnings, in full compliance with the standard.