Cigarette - Warning Messages in Packages

Warning Messages in Packages

Some countries require cigarette packs to contain warnings about health. The United States was the first, later followed by other countries including Canada, most of Europe, Australia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 1985, Iceland became the first country to enforce graphic warnings on cigarette packaging. And at end of December 2010 the new regulation from Ottawa is to increase size of tobacco warning to cover 3/4 of cigarette package. As of November 2010, 39 countries have adopted similar legislation.

On February 2011, Canadian government made a regulation that enforced cigarettes packages to contain 12 new images to cover 75 percent of the outside panel of cigarette packages and 8 new health messages in the inside panel with full color.

April 2011: The world's toughest laws on packages came from Australia. New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom have considered similar policy. All of the packages should be on a bland olive green covered 75 percent of the front of a pack and all of the back with graphic health warnings. The only things that differentiate one brand and another are just the brand and product name in a standard color, standard position and standard font size and style. Concerning the regulation Philip Morris International, Japan Tobacco Inc., British American Tobacco Plc. and Imperial Tobacco have sued the Australian government, if the regulation still be applied due to Australia should protect foreign investors from discriminatory treatment. On August 15, 2012 the High Court of Australia dismissed the sue and will make Australia as the first country to introduce brand-free plain cigarette packaging with health warning cover 90 percent and 70 percent of back and front packaging respectively. It will take effect on December 1, 2012.