On April 1, Australia implemented new cigarette packaging regulations with health warnings on each cigarette, becoming the second country after Canada to adopt such a measure.
Key points:
1. Since April 1, Australia has implemented new regulations on cigarette packaging, with health warnings printed on each cigarette.
2. The warning includes “causing 16 types of cancer” and 10 new warning ICONS and health promotion information.
3. The Cancer Council and quit groups welcomed the new rules as a more effective way of communicating the dangers of smoking.
According to Skynews, Australia’s new cigarette packaging law came into effect on April 1. Every cigarette has a health warning, making Australia the second country in the world to adopt such a measure after Canada.
Each cigarette will carry warnings such as “causes 16 types of cancer,” “damages lungs,” and “damages DNA.” In addition, 10 new warning ICONS and 10 new health messages have been added to cigarette packages.
According to a joint statement from Quit and the Cancer Council, the changes have been welcomed. New cigarette health warnings are “more effective in communicating the risks and dangers of smoking” because they are printed on filters that do not burn off when smoking.
Alecia Brooks, chair of the Cancer Council’s Tobacco Issues Committee, said:
- “The Cancer Council and Quit organizations are delighted to see these new changes come into effect today. Australia was one of the first countries to require evidence-based health promotion inserts and individual advocacy messages, and we can be proud of our efforts to protect Australians from the dangers of smoking.”
