The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it will become the first country in the world to put a warning label on every cigarette, according to a foreign news report today. The law will be implemented in phases on Aug. 1 of this year. Retailers will have until the end of April next year to carry packages of tobacco products with the new health-related information. By the end of July next year, extra-large cigarettes will be required to include health warnings, including cigars.
Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst for the Canadian Cancer Society, said: “Requiring health warnings directly on each cigarette is a world precedent that will affect everyone who takes a puff. This innovation will be accompanied by enhanced warnings on the outside of the package and health messages on the inside of the package that are unique internationally. The government also requires that 75 percent of the primary display area of tobacco packaging be displayed with a health warning. The new requirement deserves strong support.
Canada says it aims to reduce its tobacco use to less than 5 percent by 2035. According to government data, 13 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 will be smoking daily by 2020.
We are taking action to become the first country in the world to put health warning messages on individual cigarettes, said Carolyn Bennett, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Deputy Minister of Health. Health warnings are almost inevitable and serve as a constant reminder of the health effects of smoking. We will continue to do everything possible to work toward a smoke-free life for Canadians.”