graphic warnings

European Commission will look at which pictures work best to help smokers quit

The European Commission is planning a new study aimed at developing better graphic images to warn of the damaging effects of tobacco, in a bid to encourage more European Union countries to put the pictures on cigarette packets.

Haravgi-Nina Papadoulaki, spokeswoman for the EC’s commissioner for health and consumer protection, said that, although the commission developed a library of pictorial health warnings in 2005, only three European Union member states have started putting the images on cigarette packets: the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Latvia.

From the BMJ

A report from the European Parliament's Environment Committee supports graphic warnings

LOTHIANS-BASED Euro MP David Martin has welcomed tough new moves by Brussels to deter youngsters from smoking.

The European Parliament's environment committee voted in favour of a report which proposes young people should not have access to cigarette machines and that hard-hitting picture warnings should be mandatory on all tobacco products sold in the EU.

They also called for all EU countries to ban smoking in indoor public places within two years.

Mr Martin, who sits on the environment committee, said: "Member states must commit themselves to reduce smoking among young people by at least 50 per cent by 2025 and I am pleased my colleagues voted to accept these proposals." Source: The Scotsman

United Kingdom: Smokers to face picture warnings... in september 2009

Images highlighting the dangers of smoking will be printed on all tobacco products sold in the UK by the end of 2009, under regulations being set out.

Manufacturers will have to start complying from October next year.
After a public consultation 15 images, including ones of diseased lungs, have been chosen to accompany text warnings about lung cancer and heart disease.

Switzerland adopts the EU graphic warnings

The EU graphic warnings will start appearing on the cigarette packs sold in Switzerland in 2008.

Gar Mahood and Health Warnings

Gar Mahood speaks in Brussels about how the Canadian government was "convinced" to install big health warnings, eventually with pictures, on the cigarette packs. It took a lot of advocacy and lobbying.
LISTEN

Cyber-rendez-vous with Markos Kyprianou

Q1. Mr Commissioner, our previous interview was more than a year ago (oct 15, 2005). Have you seen progress in 2006 in tobacco control at the EU level?

Markos Kyprianou: There has been a considerable progress in tobacco control over the last year.

Markos Kyprianou's about Graphic Warnings

This is the text of the speech given by the European Commissioner for Health at the inauguration of the Photo Exhibition about The Power of Communications Against Tobacco in Brussels, 31 January 2007.

It is titled: The Role of Pictorial Health Warnings in Europe's Tobacco Control Policy

Exhibit and seminar about graphic warnings in Brussels

"The Power of Communications Against Tobacco" is an exhibition and seminar being held in Brussels from 31 January to 2 February 2007 at the Bibliothèque Solvay.
The aim of the exhibition is to highlight the importance that better communications and powerful images can have in the fight against tobacco. In organising this event, we have the support of Jules Maaten, MEP and EP Rapporteur on the European legislation introducing large and optional pictorial warnings on tobacco products (the latter now being introduced in Belgium) and Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health.
For information and registration contact Catherine St Laurent

Nota: Catherine St-Laurent is Consultant to Pfizer (www.pfizer.com), GSK (www.gsk.com) and Novartis (www.novartis.com) Burson-Marsteller
Tel: +32 499 20 44 61
catherine_st-laurent@be.bm.com
Burson-Marsteller is the supporting agency for “The Power of Communications Against Tobacco”