Graphic warning labels on cigarette packs are being introduced in the United States to make health warnings more prominent. Current warnings have been in place for 25 years and are often ignored. New graphic labels will cover 50% of the front and back of packs and 20% of cigarette ads. The FDA is requiring the graphic labels by 2012 under a new law. Public comments on sample labels were collected in 2010 to help select the 9 images and messages that will rotate on packs every few years. Several other countries already use graphic warning labels.

1. Cigarette Graphic Warning Labels
November 15, 2010

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Where can I comment?
• Check out the warnings
here:
http://www.fda.gov/Toba
ccoProducts/Labeling/Cig
aretteProductWarningLab
els/ucm231346.htm
• Tell the government what
you think about the
warnings & which ones
are most effective

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. More resources
• Tobacco warning labels:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/03
25.pdf
• FDA regulation of tobacco products:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/03
52.pdf
• HHS announcement:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/11/20101110a.ht
ml
• Proposed Warnings:
http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigarettePro
ductWarningLabels/default.htm

10. More resources
• Tobacco warning labels:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/03
25.pdf
• FDA regulation of tobacco products:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/03
52.pdf
• HHS announcement:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/11/20101110a.ht
ml
• Proposed Warnings:
http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/CigarettePro
ductWarningLabels/default.htm