Syrian Arab Republic

Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) status

Date of signature 11 July 2003

Date of ratification (or legal equivalent) 22 November 2004

Socioeconomic context

Population (thousands) 20 447

Adults 15+ years (thousands) 13 086
Income group Middle income

Prevalence of tobacco use

Youth prevalence, current smoking (%)* Cigarette Tobacco

s
Male 19.1 38.6
Female 5.9 19.5
Total 12.3 29.0
* Age group 13—15 years, 2007, National, Global Youth Tobacco Survey

Adult prevalence, tobacco smoking (%)** Current ...

cigarette
smoking
Male 62.0 ...
Female 21.0 ...
Total ... ...
Adult prevalence, smokeless tobacco use (%)** ... ...
Male ... ...
Female ... ...
Total ... ...
** Age group 18—65, 2004, subnational, Mapping the Health and Environmental Situation in Informal
Zones in Aleppo, Syria: Report from the Aleppo Household Survey

Smoke-free environments
 Health-care facilities No
Educational facilities except universities No
Universities No
Government facilities No
Indoor offices No
Restaurants No
Pubs and bars No
Public transport No
Compliance score § —
National law require fines for smoking No
Fines levied on the establishment —
Fines levied on the smoker —
Funds dedicated for enforcement No
Complaint system that requires an investigation after a No
complaint
§ A score of 0—10, where 0 is low compliance. Please refer to Technical Note I in the GTCR 2009 report for
more information.

Sub-national jurisdictions with complete smoke-free legislation in

all assessed facilities

None.
Treatment of tobacco dependence

National toll-free quit line No

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sold No
Bupropion sold No
Varenicline sold Yes
Smoking cessation support available in primary care Yes in most
facilities
Smoking cessation support available in hospitals Yes in most
Smoking cessation support available in offices of health Yes in most
professionals
Smoking cessation support available in the community Yes in some
Health warnings on tobacco packages

Cigarettes Other Smokeless

smoked tobacco
tobacco
Ban on misleading descriptors such as Yes — —
"mild", "low tar", etc.
% of the principal display areas (front and 15 15
back combined) covered by a warning
% of the principal display area (front) 30 30
covered by a warning
% of the principal display area (back) 0 0
covered by a warning
Law mandates specific warnings Yes Yes
Number of warnings approved by law 1 1
Warnings appear on each package and Yes Yes
outside packaging
Warnings describe the harmful effects of Yes Yes
tobacco use
Law mandates font style, font size and No No
colour
Warnings are rotating No No
Warnings are written in the principal Yes Yes
language(s) of the country
Warnings include a picture or graphic No No
Bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Direct bans
National TV and radio Yes
International TV and radio Yes
Local magazines and newspapers Yes
International magazines and newspapers Yes
Billboards and outdoor advertising Yes
Point of sale Yes
Internet Yes
Compliance score of direct bans § 10
Indirect bans
Free distribution Yes
Promotional discounts Yes
Non-tobacco products identified with tobacco brand Yes
names
Brand name of non-tobacco products used for tobacco Yes
product
Appearance of tobacco products in TV and/or films No
(product placement)
Sponsored events Yes
Compliance score of indirect bans § 10
§ A score of 0—10, where 0 is low compliance. Please refer to Technical Note I in the GTCR 2009 report for
more information.
Tobacco taxation and price

Price of most sold brand, pack of 20 cigarettes

In currency reported by country SYP 30.00
In US$ at official exchange rate US$ 0.62
Taxes on this brand (% of retail price) ᄌ
Total taxes 30
Total excise 12
Value added tax (VAT) 15
Import duty and other taxes 3
ᄌ Individual categories of tax may not add to total due to rounding.

National tobacco control programme

Specific national government objectives in tobacco Yes

control
National agency or technical unit for tobacco control Yes
Number of full-time equivalent staff 11
Government expenditure on tobacco control
In currency reported by country SYP 1 600 000
In US$ at official exchange rate US$ 32 952

– data not required

… data not provided