Canada is to become the first country print health warnings on individual cigarettes. The stark messages include "poison in very puff" and "cigarettes cause impotence".
The country's new Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations will be form part of the government's efforts to help adults who smoke to quit. The move also aims to "protect youth and non-tobacco users from nicotine addiction, and to further reduce the appeal of tobacco."
A Health Canada statement explains: "Labelling the tipping paper of individual cigarettes, little cigars, tubes, and other tobacco products will make it virtually impossible to avoid health warnings altogether. In addition, the regulations will support Canada's Tobacco Strategy and its target of reaching less than 5% tobacco use by 2035."
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, says: "Tobacco use continues to kill 48,000 Canadians each year. We are taking action by being the first country in the world to label individual cigarettes with health warning messages. This bold step will make health warning messages virtually unavoidable, and together with updated graphic images displayed on the package, will provide a real and startling reminder of the health consequences of smoking.
"We will continue to do whatever it takes to help more people in Canada stop smoking and help young people to live healthy tobacco-free lives."
Canada first adopted pictorial warning requirements for tobacco product packages in 2000 to increase awareness of the health hazards and health effects associated with tobacco use. Current health-related messages and images for cigarettes and little cigars have been in place since 2011. Those for most remaining tobacco products have remained unchanged since their introduction in 2000.
Terry Dean, President and CEO, Canadian Lung Association, adds: "The bold measures announced today to strengthen tobacco product labelling will ensure the dangers of these products to lung health cannot be missed.
"Requiring warnings directly on cigarettes — the first country to do so — will help to reduce their appeal, particularly for youth. Canada must continue to take decisive action to reduce tobacco use."
