Why do cigarette packs show graphic photographs?

EU law requires combined warnings pairing text with a photograph from a standardised image library, intended to communicate health risks more effectively than text alone, and this is transposed into Portuguese law via Lei n.º 109/2015.

Can I legally buy a pack of 10 cigarettes in Portugal?

No, the legal minimum pack size for cigarettes sold in Portugal is 20; smaller packs are not permitted precisely to avoid lowering the cost barrier to starting smoking.

What is the alphanumeric code printed on a cigarette pack?

It is the unique identifier required by the EU tobacco traceability system, which encodes manufacturing and supply-chain information and lets authorities confirm the pack moved through a legitimate distribution chain.

Do heated-tobacco sticks need the same warnings as cigarettes?

Yes, since Lei n.º 5/2024 transposed the EU directive removing exemptions for heated tobacco, these products carry combined health warnings equivalent to conventional cigarettes.

Guide

What must appear on a tobacco pack sold in Portugal?

Every legal tobacco pack sold in Portugal carries a standardised set of health warnings, a minimum pack size, and a hidden traceability code that lets authorities verify it is genuine.

Last checked: September 2026

In short

Since the EU Tobacco Products Directive was transposed by Lei n.º 109/2015, cigarette and rolling-tobacco packs sold in Portugal must carry combined health warnings — a text warning plus a graphic photograph from an official EU picture library — covering 65% of the front and back of the pack, plus a general warning and an information message on the sides. Cigarette packs must contain at least 20 units and rolling tobacco at least 30g, promotional or misleading elements such as suggesting a product is less harmful are banned, and every individual pack must carry a unique identifier and a tamper-proof security feature as part of the EU-wide traceability system, extended to heated tobacco by Lei n.º 5/2024.

Key points

Combined text-and-photo health warnings must cover 65% of the front and back of cigarette and rolling-tobacco packs.
Minimum pack sizes are 20 cigarettes or 30g of rolling tobacco.
Misleading labels implying a product is less harmful, natural or lighter are banned.
Every pack sold in the EU carries a unique traceability identifier and a tamper-proof security feature.
In Portugal, a valid tax stamp (estampilha especial) is also required to confirm tobacco tax has been paid.

Combined health warnings

Combined warnings pair a written health message with a corresponding photograph chosen from a library of images set at EU level, and must be printed on both the front and back of the pack, covering 65% of each surface, positioned at the top edge and not obscured by any other element of the packaging.

A general warning ('Smoking kills' or an equivalent statement) and an informational message about cessation support must also appear on the side panels of the pack, and rolling tobacco sold in pouches follows a comparable layout adapted to that packaging shape.

Pack size and format rules

The law sets minimum pack sizes specifically to prevent very cheap, very small packs from lowering the barrier to starting smoking: cigarette packs must contain at least 20 cigarettes, and rolling tobacco must be sold in units of at least 30g.

Labelling that could mislead consumers into thinking one product is less harmful than another — including terms implying a natural, organic or lighter product — is prohibited, as is any element that resembles a food product or suggests economic advantage in a way that could encourage consumption.

EU traceability marks on the pack

Since May 2019 every individual tobacco pack sold in the EU, including in Portugal, must carry a unique identifier: an alphanumeric code encoding information about where and when it was manufactured, its intended market and its supply-chain journey. This lets customs and tax authorities track a pack from the factory to the first retail point.

Alongside the unique identifier, packs must carry a tamper-proof security feature combining visible and hidden elements, which lets consumers and inspectors check a pack is genuine rather than counterfeit or illegally trafficked. In Portugal, the Autoridade Tributária also requires the separate tax stamp (estampilha especial) confirming excise duty has been paid.

Why this matters when buying

A pack sold legally in Portugal should show the combined warning covering the correct proportion of front and back, the correct minimum unit count, a visible tax stamp, and the printed unique identifier and security feature; a pack missing these elements is a sign it may not have been placed on the market through the proper legal channel.

Common questions

Why do cigarette packs show graphic photographs?: EU law requires combined warnings pairing text with a photograph from a standardised image library, intended to communicate health risks more effectively than text alone, and this is transposed into Portuguese law via Lei n.º 109/2015.
Can I legally buy a pack of 10 cigarettes in Portugal?: No, the legal minimum pack size for cigarettes sold in Portugal is 20; smaller packs are not permitted precisely to avoid lowering the cost barrier to starting smoking.
What is the alphanumeric code printed on a cigarette pack?: It is the unique identifier required by the EU tobacco traceability system, which encodes manufacturing and supply-chain information and lets authorities confirm the pack moved through a legitimate distribution chain.
Do heated-tobacco sticks need the same warnings as cigarettes?: Yes, since Lei n.º 5/2024 transposed the EU directive removing exemptions for heated tobacco, these products carry combined health warnings equivalent to conventional cigarettes.

Sources

This page is general information about Portuguese rules and Lisbon practice, not legal advice. Rules change; check the sources for the current text. Tobacco is for adults 18 and over.