Canada to label health warning on each cigarette stick

Canada has made a groundbreaking decision to require cigarette manufacturers to print health warnings on each individual cigarette. This historic measure, the first of its kind globally, will be implemented gradually. Retailers will begin displaying the warnings by April of the following year, starting in August. King-size cigarettes will carry the warnings by July, while regular-sized ones will follow suit by April 2025, according to the Canadian government's press release.

The warning messages, available in English and French, will cover a range of health risks associated with smoking, from the harm of tobacco smoke to the connection with leukaemia. Canadian health officials emphasize that these new regulations, known as the Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging, and Labelling Regulations, are part of ongoing efforts to assist smoking cessation among adults, protect youth and non-tobacco users from nicotine addiction, and reduce the appeal of tobacco.

Experts in Canada view this initiative as groundbreaking and believe it will set a worldwide precedent. Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, highlights that labelling each cigarette will make it extremely difficult for smokers to ignore the warnings. The introduction of these warning labels is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing Canada's smoking population.

The country's goal is to decrease tobacco use to less than 5% by 2035. Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos stresses that tobacco use remains a significant public health concern in Canada, being the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death. The government is committed to employing evidence-based tools to safeguard the health of Canadians, particularly the younger generation.