“Poison in every puff”: Every cigarette sold in Canada will bear a warning 2023
The regulations go into effect on August 1, when the federal mandate on king-size cigarettes goes into effect. Followed by standard-sized cigarettes, which have until July 31, 2024 to print the warnings on single cigarettes, and small cigars with dipping paper and tubes by April 30, 2025.
“Tobacco use continues to kill 48,000 Canadians each year,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett stated on Wednesday.
“This bold step will make health warning messages virtually impossible to ignore, and together with updated graphic images exhibited on the packaging, it will serve as a real and shocking reminder of the negative health effects of smoking.
“We will continue to do whatever it takes to assist more Canadians in quitting smoking and to assist youth in leading tobacco-free lives,” she added.
Warnings include “poison in every puff,” “tobacco smoke harms children,” and “cigarettes cause impotence” (in English and French).
A world first, the government will put warnings on cigarettes.
According to Health Canada, the strategy seeks to reduce tobacco use below 5% by 2035. New regulations also strengthen the health-related images displayed on tobacco packaging.
Doug Roth, chief executive officer of the charity Heart & Stroke, stated that the daring measure will ensure that pulmonary health risks cannot be overlooked.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, this measure will reduce smoking and cigarette appeal, thereby preventing cancer and other diseases.
Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, stated that health messages will be communicated with every inhalation and during every cigarette break. Canada will have the finest health warning system in the world, he added.
In Canada, tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are prohibited, and cigarette packets have contained health warnings since 1972.
In 2001, Canada was the first nation to require tobacco companies to include graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and inserts.