Canada Becomes First Country To Print Warnings On Every Single Cigarette

Many countries have advisory warnings printed on cigarette boxes in an attempt to dissuade residents from smoking. But soon, Canada will become the first in the world to require these labels to appear on each individual cigarette.

The regulations, which Health Canada announced previously, will come into effect on August 1, 2023, and will be enacted in phases. Warnings will first appear on “King-sized” cigarettes to be sold in stores by July 2024.

Following that, the labels will feature on regular-sized cigarettes and little cigars with tipping paper by the end of April 2025. The messages, to be written in both English and French, include the phrases “poison in every puff” and “tobacco smoke harms children.”

Health Canada explained that by labeling the tipping paper of individual cigarettes, it would become “virtually impossible” for smokers to ignore the cautions. This move hopes to dissuade nicotine addiction and help the country reach less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

“Tobacco use continues to kill 48,000 Canadians each year. We are taking action by being the first country in the world to label individual cigarettes with health warning messages,” said Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett.

“This bold step will make health warning messages virtually unavoidable, and together with updated graphic images displayed on the package, will provide a real and startling reminder of the health consequences of smoking,” she added.

[via CBS News and BBC, cover image via Health Canada]