Cigarettes and Tobacco News

Mar 8, 2007 -- Cigarettes packages will have picture-based warnings beginning next year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday.

The ministry said that it will make a pre-announcement of the legislation of the revised law on improving people??s health today, which will introduce picture-based warnings on cigarette packages in order to emphasize the risks of smoking. The ministry is to submit the revised law to the National Assembly in June so that it can go into effect beginning next year.

"Cigarette packages with picture-based warnings are 60 times more effective in deterring smokers from lighting up and encouraging them to quit than word-based warnings according to a recent study. We expect this measure will help protect more people from the dangers of smoking, said a ministry official.

The picture-based warnings which show seriously damaged teeth or a damaged heart are currently in consideration.

In an effort to reduce the worldwide health and economic burden from the tobacco epidemic, 168 countries have signed and 143 countries have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This international treaty requires that health warnings should cover 50 percent _ and must cover at least 30 percent _ of the cigarette package front and back, with optional use of pictures.

To date, at least nine countries have required picture-based warnings meeting FCTC size standards: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Uruguay and Venezuela. Many other countries including South Korea meet FCTC size provisions, but have not required pictures.