Countries around the world require health warnings to be printed on cigarette packages. Here are some examples:

Canada

In June 2000, the federal Tobacco Products Information Regulations was passed - requiring that all cigarette packages display  health warning messages that take up at least 50 per cent of the main display surface of the package. Canada is the first country in the world to implement such strong labelling regulations. The following sixteen warnings, containing both text and graphics, must be equally displayed among brands:

 

The regulations also require that the inside of the cigarette packages display information on the health risks of smoking, and the benefits of quitting smoking. As well, information about the toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke will have to be displayed on the side of the package.
 

United States

In 1984, four rotating warnings were required to appear on cigarette packages and advertisements, prefaced with "Surgeon General's warning":

• Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.
• Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.
• Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth, and low birth weight.
• Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide.

The following health warnings appear on packages of smokeless tobacco (snuff, chewing tobacco):

• This product may cause gum disease and tooth loss.
• This product may cause mouth cancer.
• This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.

European Union (EU)

In May 2001, a directive of the European Parliament and Council regulating tobacco products became law. Health warnings shall cover at least 30 per cent of the front and 40 per cent of the back surface of individual packets of tobacco. The following warnings will be rotated on the most visible surface:

• Smoking kills/smoking can kill.
• Smoking seriously harms you and others around you.

And the additional warnings shall be printed on the other most visible surface of the package:

• Smokers die younger.
• Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes.
• Smoking causes fatal lung cancer.
• Smoking when pregnant harms your baby.
• Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke.
• Your doctor or your pharmacist can help you stop smoking.
• Smoking is highly addictive, don't start.
• Stopping smoking reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases.
• Smoking can cause a slow and painful death.
• Get help to stop smoking: (telephone/postal address/internet address/consult your doctor/pharmacist).
• Smoking may reduce the blood flow and causes impotence.
• Smoking causes ageing of the skin.
• Smoking can damage the sperm and decreases fertility.
• Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.

Sweden

Sweden was the first country to implement rotating warnings on cigarette packages, starting in 1977. It currently has 16 rotating health warnings (13 for cigarettes), which are changed every few years. The fifth set, introduced in 1991, included:

• Smoking is addictive. Nicotine makes you physically dependent in a way similar to that of heroin or cocaine.
• The number of women who die of lung cancer is increasing dramatically. This is due to smoking.
• Do your children cough? Children exposed to tobacco smoke are more often affected by serious upper respiratory infection.
• Smoking during pregnancy impedes the growth of the fetus and increases the risk of miscarriage.
• Heart attacks before the age of 50 strike almost only those who smoke.
• Both the use of moist snuff and smoking increase the risk of mouth cancer. Smoking also contributes to loosening of the teeth.

Swedish regulations now closely follow the EU guidelines.

Australia

Since January 1995, all tobacco products manufactured in Australia must include one of six rotating health warnings. Each warning, written in black on a white background, must occupy 25 per cent of the front of the package.  Australia was also the first nation to require "how to quit" information to be printed on every pack. The warnings are:

• Smoking causes lung cancer
• Smoking is addictive
• Smoking kills
• Smoking causes heart disease
• Smoking when pregnant harms your baby
• Your smoking can harm others

Japan

The polite "For the sake of your health, please do not smoke too much" was replaced in the 1990s with a warning only slightly stronger:

• Tobacco may be harmful to your health. Avoid excessive smoking.

Chile

• Tobacco may cause cancer.

Reprinted with permission from Smoke-Free for Life, a smoking prevention curriculum supplement from the Nova Scotia Department of Health, Drug Dependency and Tobacco Control Unit, 1996. Adapted and updated 2002

Related Lesson

Tobacco Labels