Cigarette Graphic Warning LabelsNovember 15, 2010

What is the history of warning labels?

• Required since 1965

• Current warnings are 25 years old

• Can be easily ignored, not very visible

• Located on the sides of the cigarette pack

What are graphic warning labels?

• Warnings cover 50% of the front and back of each pack

• 20% of cigarette advertisement

• Color graphics paired with warning messages

Why are graphic warning labels starting now?

• Under the new FDA law, tobacco companies must start using graphics by 2012

• Health and Human Services (HHS) and FDA introduced the sample warnings November 10th to hear what the public and experts had to say about these samples

Where can I comment?

• Check out the warnings here: http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigaretteProductWarningLabels/ucm231346.htm

• Tell the government what you think about the warnings & which ones are most effective

2012

• FDA plans to select 9 required warnings of the 30 options

• Color graphic + one of the 9 textual warning statements

• Warnings will change every few years

The warning statements• WARNING– Cigarettes are addictive– Tobacco smoke can harm your children– Cigarettes cause fatal lung disease– Cigarettes cause cancer– Cigarettes cause strokes and heart disease– Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby– Smoking can kill you– Tobacco smoke causes fatal lung disease in

nonsmokers– Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks

to your health

Warning labels internationally

• The UK, The Philippines, Uruguay, Hong Kong, EU, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand & Canada all have existing or proposed warning labels

• Many of these are more graphic than the proposed U.S. images

More resources • Tobacco warning labels:

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0325.pdf

• FDA regulation of tobacco products: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0352.pdf

• HHS announcement: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/11/20101110a.html

• Proposed Warnings: http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigaretteProductWarningLabels/default.htm