Canada is set to become the first nation to implement a new initiative to discourage smoking, particularly among young people, and encourage smokers to quit. This initiative involves printing warning messages directly onto individual cigarettes in both English and French. These warning phrases, such as "Cigarettes cause cancer" and "Poison in every puff," will be visible near the filter, highlighting the health risks associated with smoking, including harm to organs, children and potential implications for impotence and leukemia.
PHOTO: Health Canada
The new regulations went into effect Tuesday, August 1st, and Canadians will start seeing the new warning labels on cigarettes next year. Manufacturers have been given specific deadlines to ensure all king-size cigarettes include the warnings by July 2024, and regular-size cigarettes and little cigars with tipping paper and tubes must display these warnings by April 2025.
This movement is part of Canada's broader efforts to reduce tobacco usage to less than 5% by 2035. In addition to the warnings printed directly on cigarettes, there are plans to introduce further warning labels inside the packaging and introduce new external warning messages.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for an estimated 30% of all cancer deaths in Canada. Approximately 72% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking tobacco.
"Tobacco use continues to be one of Canada's most significant public health problems and is the country's leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. Our government is using every evidence-based tool at our disposal to help protect the health of Canadians, especially young people," said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health.
SOURCE: Government of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society.
