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