You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

February 5, 2024

Cambodia Issues Directive Highlighting Alcohol Advertising Limits

Subscribe to Updates

On January 9, 2024, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information (MOI) issued an official notification letter reminding the alcohol and advertising industries of past directives, instructions, and the MOI’s Code of Conduct surrounding alcohol advertising. The step comes as the MOI reports that they are seeing increased noncompliance in this area of advertising. In addition, several recent high-profile traffic accidents that involved drunk driving are likely serving as a trigger for the government to review its alcohol-related policies, including on advertising.

Alcohol Advertising Rules and Limits

The notification letter reminds the industry that there are limits to alcohol advertising, including:

  • Advertising alcohol alongside potential prizes or undertaking “other activities that motivate, encourage, or entice people to overindulge on alcohol”; and
  • Using women or minors to advertise alcohol.

Furthermore, all alcohol advertising must also include the phrase “Don’t Drink and Drive” or “Drink Responsibly.”

The notification letter explains that media outlets failing to comply with the instructions may be subject to penalties. Although the penalties are not clearly identified in reference to a specific law or regulation, it is possible that actions could include the consequences outlined under the agreement between each media outlet and the MOI, with potential suspension of the media license being an option in case of persistent noncompliance. However, this rather strong enforcement tool would only affect the media outlet that carries out the advertising rather than the alcohol producer that instigated the advertising. Penalties for the alcohol industry are not immediately clear, although it may be that the possible suspension or taking down of noncompliant advertising is considered a sufficient penalty for the time being.

Past MOI Circulars and Letters

The notification letter further reminds the industry to follow Circular No. 492 on Alcohol Advertisement (2014). It also references two notifications (Nos. 1134 and 1294) on the same subject that were issued in 2017.

The 2017 notifications refer to a requirement to register and seek permission for advertising with rewards, suggesting that certain forms of alcohol advertising with prizes or rewards may be permitted by the MOI.

Furthermore, the notifications state that alcohol advertisements may only mention brand information and where to purchase the products without containing further enticing imagery.

The latest notification letter does not repeat these strict content requirements, and in practice, the prohibition on enticing imagery has often been ignored. A quick survey of the current state of the alcohol advertising industry in Cambodia shows that noncompliance is widespread, with many brands using, for example, images of influencers to advertise their products.

In addition, the conflicting or unclear instructions in the letters, notifications, and circular do not seem to encourage effective self-regulation, as the rules leave room for interpretation or at least an argument that there is confusion over the exact rules.

Alcohol Control Legislation

Hopes are pinned on the draft Law on Alcohol Control, although the law has been lingering in the draft stages since 2015.

This law would likely include clearly legislated penalties and should set a clear framework for authorities to enforce, rather than relying on circulars, letters, instructions, and codes of conduct that may not have clear legal bases or penalties tied to noncompliance.

Related Professionals

Practices

Regulatory Affairs

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

September 8, 2025
The Indonesian government has implemented mandatory halal certification to protect its predominantly Muslim population. To ensure halal standards, the government has issued several key regulations, including Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance, Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 concerning Implementation of Halal Product Assurance, and specifically for imported products, Decision of the Head of Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) No. 90 of 2023 concerning Procedures of Implementing Foreign Halal Certificate Registration. Compliance Deadlines The government has established statutory deadlines for products and services to obtain halal certification under Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021 concerning Implementation of Halal Product Assurance. The deadline for imported food, beverages, and slaughtering products and services to comply with halal certification was extended to October 17, 2026 (from October 17, 2024, originally) with the issuance of Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024. Other product categories have varying deadlines: October 17, 2026: Natural drugs, quasi-drugs, health supplements, cosmetics, chemical products, genetically engineered products, clothing and accessories, household supplies, prayer equipment, stationery, and class A medical devices October 17, 2029: Over-the-counter drugs and class B medical devices October 17, 2034: Prescription drugs (excluding psychotropics) and class C medical devices SHLN Registration for Imports To simplify the halal certification process for imported products, BPJPH offers a foreign halal certificate registration (Registrasi Sertifikat Halal Luar Negeri, or SHLN registration) pathway. This allows eligible imported products to obtain halal certification without filing the standard national halal certification procedure. Under the Halal Law, imported products are not required to apply for national halal certification if their halal certificate is issued by a foreign halal institution that has entered into a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with BPJPH. Currently, 89 foreign halal institutions from countries (including the United States, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom) have entered into
Read More
September 4, 2025
With advancements in health technology, telemedicine has taken on a wider online presence in Thailand. Under the Medical Facility Act, licensed clinics and hospitals may now diagnose, prescribe, and issue electronic prescriptions during a video call, provided they maintain patient confidentiality and proper recordkeeping. As a complementary concept, a telepharmacy allows a pharmacist to verify prescriptions, counsel patients, and dispense medication from a remote site. Hospitals, clinic chains, and some retail pharmacy groups have adopted “drive-thru” or “locker” pick-up points where drugs are bagged only after a real-time video consultation with a registered pharmacist. The clear benefits of telehealth include shorter waiting times and broader access to specialists, which is in the public interest. Drug Distribution and Advertising in Thailand The online pharmacy ecosystem creates a legal bridge in that once a teleconsulting doctor issues an e-prescription, a licensed pharmacy can lawfully dispense and deliver the medicine prescribed to the patient’s door. Nonetheless, the critical compliance component remains the advertising of medicinal drugs. It is still not allowed to advertise prescription/pharmacy-dispensed drugs to the public in Thailand. Although Thailand’s Drug Act of 1967 was written more than half a century ago, it still governs the trading of every medicinal drug that makes its way to consumers in Thailand—whether bought at a pharmacy or delivered with a few taps on a smartphone. First and foremost, the pharmacy must hold a license to sell medicinal drugs as a retailer. It is also mandatory that arrangements be made for a pharmacist to be on duty during opening hours. Drugs are classified into three main categories: prescription drugs, pharmacy-dispensed drugs, and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The listing of OTC drugs with their prices via an online platform is allowed, as only OTC drugs may be advertised directly to the public. However, naming or showing
Read More
September 3, 2025
Liberal cannabis access in Thailand is officially over. On June 26, 2025, the Ministry of Public Health brought the inflorescence of cannabis back under tight control through its new Notification on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) 2025 (“Notification 2025”). The message is that cannabis may stay in the marketplace, but only if strictly supervised under a cannabis prescription from a medical professional. Two main pillars now define compliance: (1) prescription requirements and mandatory reporting, and (2) Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). This article aims to summarize each essential element for the relevant parties. 1. Getting a Prescription: Digital Diagnosis vs. Real-World Paperwork? Dispensaries, even those with a license to sell cannabis, can no longer sell cannabis to walk-in customers who don’t have a valid prescription. Sales are lawful only when the buyer duly presents a cannabis prescription issued by one of seven recognized professional practitioners, including medical doctors, Thai traditional medicine doctors, applied Thai traditional medicine doctors, folk healers, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists, or dentists. Notification 2025 does not mention teleconsultations or online prescriptions. Nonetheless, policymakers at this stage opine that an online chat or casual consultation, with the prescription sent via a social media platform or e-mail, would not comply with this latest regulation. In order to be eligible to issue cannabis prescriptions, medical doctors should be working in a clinic or hospital and should issue paper-based prescriptions. The official prescription form, called a PT 33, must be used. The prescriber has the discretion to indicate the cannabis strain (or product type), dosage, and intended duration of use, which cannot exceed 30 days per prescription. This ensures that the product matches the patient’s medical needs and aligns with professional treatment guidelines. In practice, each prescription will be valid for one-time use only and cannot be refilled; a new prescription
Read More
August 8, 2025
In response to persistent challenges in food safety management and recent high-profile incidents involving counterfeit supplemented foods, infant formula, and health supplements, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam is initiating comprehensive regulatory reforms. These reforms include proposed amendments to the Law on Food Safety and its implementing Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP (Decree 15), introducing significant changes to the registration procedures for food products, especially supplemented food products and health supplements. While awaiting public consultation and approval of the amended Law on Food Safety, the Ministry of Health is developing an interim mechanism, which includes a draft decree to replace Decree 15 and a draft resolution to address urgent issues until the amended law becomes effective, expected in July 2026. To align with the new Law on Quality of Products and Goods, the draft resolution stipulates that the declaration and registration of food products will follow the following procedures: Declaration of applied standards for food products, which is currently known as the “self-declaration” procedure, applies to processed packaged foods, food additives, food processing aids, containers or utensils that come into direct contact with food, packaging materials in direct contact with food, and micronutrients. Granting of circulation numbers, which is the current “registration of product declaration” procedure, applies to specific categories of food including health supplements, medical nutrition foods, special dietary foods, nutritional products for children up to 36 months, and, especially, supplemented foods, which are currently subject to self-declaration but will be shifted to this registration procedure. In addition, the following new procedure is introduced in the draft decree: Registration of declaration of conformity, which applies to the same product category as in “declaration of applied standards” above, but is for products that are already subject to technical regulations covering both safety indicators and quality indicators. Changes to the Food Product
Read More