TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
§ 51915
DIVISION 5: BUSINESS REGULATION
§ 51915. Conditions of Premises: Areca Nut (Betel Nut) Display; Labeling. (a) Display and Access Requirements. A person or business entity shall ensure that any areca nut (betel nut) are displayed in accordance with this section. Areca nut (betel nut) shall not be displayed openly or in any manner in any part of the business premises generally open to the public. Such packages or bags of areca nut (betel nut) shall be secured underneath or behind the cashier counter at the point of sale, which can only be accessed by the owner or an authorized agent (cashier) of the retail establishment upon the request from a person of legal age to purchase such item or product. (b) Labeling Requirements. (1) General. (i) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, package, sell, offer to sell, distribute, or import for sale or distribution within the CNMI any betel nut product unless the packaging meets the labeling requirements of this Section. (2) Label Placement. (i) Each label shall be prominently displayed directly on every betel nut product and betel nut container. (ii) Labels shall be placed in a manner that ensures they clearly contrast with other printed material on the item. (iii) Betel nut products must comply with the applicable warning label requirements described in subsections (3)(i)-(ii) below. (iv) Betel nut containers must comply with the applicable warning label requirements described in subsections 3(iii)-(iv) below. (3) Label Design; Rotating Labels. (i) From January 1 through June 30, all betel nut products must display labels that meet the following requirements: (A) The design is a circular shape with a diameter of at least 1.5 inches, featuring a black background with a dark red octagonal outline resembling a stop sign behind the text with not more than 30% opacity and not less than 15% opacity. (B) The design shall include a red triangle with a black exclamation mark to signify caution. The following text shall be centered within the circle, superimposed over the octagonal shape: “WARNING: BETEL NUT CONTAINS ARECOLINE, KNOWN TO CAUSE: CANCER.” The font used shall be Times New Roman with a font size of no less than 24. (C) Below the text described in the above subsection (b)(3)(i)(B), there shall be text stating the following: “*MAY COMPLICATE PREGNANCY.” The font used shall be Times New Roman, italicized, with a font size of no less than 9.4. (D) A black circular “18+” symbol shall be placed at the bottom of the design.
§ 51915
TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
DIVISION 5: BUSINESS REGULATION
(E) All text shall appear in white against a black, dark red, or dark gray background. (ii) From July 1 through December 31, all betel nut products must display labels that meet the following requirements; (A) The design is a circular shape with a diameter of 1.5 inches, featuring a white background with red text stating “WARNING” written twice in large, red, curved text--one instance at the top and another at the bottom. The curved text shall use the Times New Roman font in red with a font size of no less than 43.6. (B) The design shall include a red triangle with a black exclamation mark to signify caution, along with the following text: “BETEL NUT CONTAINS ARECOLINE, KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER.” The font used shall be Times New Roman with a font size of no less than 14. The text shall be black. (C) Below the text described in the above subsection (b)(3)(ii) (B), there shall be text stating the following: “DO NOT CHEW BETEL NUT IF YOU ARE PREGNANT.” The font used shall be Times New Roman, italicized, with a font size of no less than 11. The text shall be black. (D) A black circular “18+” symbol shall be placed at the bottom of the design (iii) All betel nut containers with a surface area of less than 50 square inches must display a label that meets the following requirements: (A) The design is a rectangular shape measuring 5.5” x 8.5”. (B) The design features the word “WARNING” in bold, uppercase black text using the Times New Roman font at a size of at least 70, centered near the top of the label. A red triangle containing a black exclamation mark is positioned directly above the word “WARNING.” (C) Below the “WARNING” text, the label includes a red diamond symbol containing a white skull and crossbones graphic and a black circular “18+” symbol. (D) Below these symbols, the following text is displayed in centered black Times New Roman font with a font size of no less than 29.5: “BETEL NUT CONTAINS ARECOLINE, KNOWN TO CAUSE: CANCER.” (iv) All betel nut containers with a surface area of 50 square inches or more must display a label that meets the following requirements: (A) The design is a rectangular shape measuring 8.5” x 11”. (B) The design features the word “WARNING” in bold, uppercase black text using the Times New roman font at a size of at least 100, centered near the top of the label. A red triangle
TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
§ 51915
DIVISION 5: BUSINESS REGULATION
containing a black exclamation mark is positioned directly above the word “WARNING.” (C) Below the “WARNING” text, the label includes a red diamond symbol containing a white skull and crossbones graphic and a black circular “18+” symbol. (D) Below these symbols, the following text is displayed in centered black Times New Roman font with a font size of not less than 45.1: “BETEL NUT CONTAINS ARECOLINE, KNOWN TO CAUSE: CANCER.” (v) Notwithstanding the above label design requirements, the Department of Commerce may, through regulation, develop and implement alternative label designs of appropriate size and character to enhance consumer visibility and comprehension. Any adjustments to font, type size, text, color, format, or any other design element shall ensure that the text remains clear, conspicuous, and legible. The design must include: (A) A black circular “18+” symbol. (B) A red triangle with a black exclamation mark to signify caution. (C) A clear notice of the health risks associated with using betel nut, including the increased risk of cancer and complications during pregnancy. (D) A prominent display of the word “WARNING.” (E) For betel nut products, the design must be circular with a diameter of no less than 1.5 inches. (F) For betel nut containers with a surface area of less than 50 square inches, the design must be rectangular with dimensions no smaller than 5.5” x 8.5”. (G) For betel nut containers with a surface area of 50 square inches or more, the design must be rectangular with dimensions no smaller than 8.5” x 11”. (c) Enforcement and Licensing. (1) Compliance with all display and labeling requirements of this Section is mandatory for the issuance and continued validity of a license to import or sell betel nut. (2) Any violation of these requirements may result in suspension, revocation, or denial of the license established under this Chapter. Source: PL 19-66 § 2 (Sept. 23, 2016), modified; amended by PL 24-02 § 3 (June 5, 2025). Commission Comment: The Commission changed the capitalization of “Section” for the purpose of conformity pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g). Section 7 of PL 24-02 provided examples of label meeting of 4 CMC § 51915(b)(3)(i), 4 CMC § 51915(b)(3)(ii), and 4 CMC 51915(b)(3)(iii)-(iv).