Larger Health Warning Messages for Cigarettes and Little Cigars

News Release: Harper Government takes action with larger health warnings on tobacco products

In December 2010, the Harper Government pledged to introduce new, larger health warning messages for cigarettes and little cigars.

That promise has been fulfilled. As of today, tobacco retailers must only sell packages of these products that meet the new health-related labeling requirements.

Following Minister Aglukkaq's announcement in December 2010, Health Canada worked quickly to develop regulations under the Tobacco Act that would implement the new health-related labels.

At the heart of the new regulations are the 16 new health warnings messages, which cover 75% of the front and back panels of packages, up from 50% previously.

Drawing from Health Canada's public opinion research and international studies, the new warnings are intended to better reach people with lower literacy levels, heavy smokers, and people thinking about quitting.

The Tobacco Products Labelling Regulations (Cigarettes and Little Cigars)became law September 2011. To mark the occasion, Minister Aglukkaq held an event at an Ottawa public school with the family of the well-known anti-smoking activist, Barb Tarbox. Ms. Tarbox, who died in 2003 of lung cancer caused by smoking, is featured on two of the new warnings messages.

The regulations provided a transition period for the tobacco industry and retailers to comply with the new health-related labelling requirements, but effective June 19th 2012, all retailers must only sell products with the new labels.

The new labels include:

• 16 new graphic health warning messages covering 75% of the front and back of packaging;
• Messages that focus on diseases associated with tobacco use and stories of Canadians whose health and lives have been negatively affected by tobacco use;
• Eight new health information messages on the inside of packs, enhanced with colour and graphics;
• New and easy-to-understand toxic emissions statements on the sides of packs; and
• A Canada-wide quitline and web address

More information on the new health-related labels can be found on the Health Canada website.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709