WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 10, 2010 – “This morning, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reaffirmed its commitment to tobacco control in the U.S. with the historic announcement of the introduction of large, graphic warning labels on cigarette packs. These new labels will appear on cigarette packs and advertisements beginning in 2012.
“The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which grants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale and marketing of tobacco products, mandates larger and more effective graphic labels which will cover 50 percent of the cigarette pack. The current warnings on tobacco products in the U.S. have not been changed in 25 years and are ineffective because of their inability to attract attention due to their size and placement on the packaging. The steps announced today are the first in a process over the next 15 months to fully implement this important portion of the law.
“With 3,900 kids picking up their first cigarette every day, and the majority of adult smokers starting as youth, these new graphic warning labels will help educate children and adults about the dangers of smoking immediately when they pick up a pack of cigarettes. The FDA has the opportunity to make an enormous impact on effectively informing the public of the actual harms of using tobacco products and inducing the desire to quit among users. ACS CAN also encourages the FDA to collaborate with research professionals and the tobacco control community so that warning labels effectively promote the awareness, availability and use of cessation services, including quit line programs.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christina Saull
(202) 585-3250
[email protected]
Steven Weiss
(202) 661-5711
[email protected]