Plain "Generic" Packaging: the next major goal for tobacco control

Packaging is the front-line of product branding. Packaging is openly recognised by manufacturers as a form of advertising in its own right. Click here for a review the case for mandating that all cigarette packs should be sold in plain "generic" packs, differentiated only by the brand name.

From 1 March 2006, Australia implemented graphical health warning messages on cigarette packets. Lots of information on the new pack designs can be found here.

The warning label requirements for cigarette packets are set out in the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 2004 Statutory Rules 2004 No. 264. These regulations were notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 26 August 2004 and commenced on 1 September 2004. The regulations apply to tobacco that is manufactured in Australia or imported into Australia and they set out the warning label requirements for cigarette packets and other tobacco products. Labelling of retail packages are set out under Parts 3 and 4 of the regulations: (1) A retail package manufactured in Australia, or imported into Australia, on or after 1 September 2004 and before 1 March 2006, must be labelled in accordance with Part 3 or 4. (2) A retail package manufactured in Australia, or imported into Australia, on or after 1 March 2006 must be labelled in accordance with Part 4 (warning message and corresponding graphic). Click here to review the explanatory statement accompanying the statutory rules.

Belgium

Information about the implementation of graphic health warnings in Belgium can be found at the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Canada

From 20 December 2000, Canada implemented graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Information about the laws can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Chile

From 12 November 2006, Chile implemented graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Information about the new laws can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Europe

Information about European Union graphic health warning requirements can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Singapore

From 1 July 2004, Singapore implemented graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. The regulations were revised in 2006. Information about the laws can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Thailand’s Minister of Health, Mr.Pinij Charusombat, has signed 4 new regulations on tobacco control on August 24, 2006, including five new pictorial health warnings. Click here to view Thailand's nine graphic health warnings.

Uruguay

From April 2006, Uruguay implemented graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Information about the laws can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Venezuela

From 2004, Venezuela implemented graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Information about the laws can be found on the Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada website.

Recent evaluations of the effectiveness of graphic health warnings:

Text and Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packages: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2007;32:202-209.

Effectiveness of cigarette warning labels in informing smokers about the risks of smoking: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey. Tobacco Control 2006;15(Suppl 3):iii19-iii25.