Graphic Warnings Coming Soon to U.S. Cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled strong new health warnings for cigarettes that show skin lesions, diseased lungs, and dead bodies, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 11.

The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco. It also required the agency to place the new, graphic warnings on cigarette packaging and in ads. The warnings — which include slogans like, “Warning: Cigarettes Cause Cancer” – will take up 20 percent of tobacco ads and the top half of the front and back of cigarette packages. 

The agency developed 36 images and is asking for public comments between now and Jan. 9, 2011.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FDA will narrow the group of images to nine by June 22, 2011, “after a comprehensive review of the relevant scientific literature, the public comments, and results from an 18,000 person study.”

The press release noted that “Each day 1,200 lives of current and former smokers are lost prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases.”

In addition to the draft warnings, the FDA also sought comments on a draft of the regulations (PDF) that would govern the new health warnings. The final rule will go into effect Oct. 22, 2012. After that date, it will not be legal to import, sell or distribute cigarettes in the United States without the new graphic warnings.

“Every day, almost 4,000 youth try a cigarette for the first time and 1,000 youth become regular, daily smokers,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Today marks an important milestone in protecting our children and the health of the American public.”

The new warnings are part of a larger strategic plan (PDF) adopted by HHS to reduce adult smoking rates and prevent youth from beginning to smoke.