US Cigarette Graphic Warnings To Go Into Effect in 2021

A new regulation requiring tobacco companies to place new graphic health warnings covering 50% of the surface area of their packets, goes into effect on June 18, 2021.

Diane Caruana

May 4, 2020

The United States has been lagging behind other countries with regards to cigarette warnings. In fact, the FDA has not updated cigarette pack warnings for over 30 years, since 1984.

As of November 2017, prime-time US tv has been featuring court-mandated adverts against smoking. These segments are funded by Altria group which owns Philip Morris USA, and British American Tobacco PLC (BAT), and came as a result of a lawsuit against the companies, which also forced the same companies to release anti-smoking warnings on their websites.

Finally, last Summer the FDA proposed a new regulation requiring tobacco companies to place new graphic health warnings on cigarette packages and adverts. The new warnings carry messages such as “Smoking reduces blood flow to the limbs, which can require amputation,” and “Smoking causes bladder cancer, which can lead to bloody urine.”

New warnings will occupy 50% of the pack area

There are 11 warnings accompanied by color graphic images of health conditions caused by smoking.

In total there are 11 warnings featuring such statements that are accompanied by color graphic images of health conditions caused by smoking. Effective June 18, 2021 these warnings must appear on cigarette packages and adverts, occupying the top 50% of the area of the front and back panels of packages and at least 20% of the area at the top of cigarette ads.

“The 11 finalized cigarette health warnings represent the most significant change to cigarette labels in more than 35 years and will considerably increase public awareness of lesser-known, but serious negative health consequences of cigarette smoking,” said director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, Mitch Zeller.

“Research shows that the current warnings on cigarettes, which have not changed since 1984, have become virtually invisible to both smokers and nonsmokers, in part because of their small size, location and lack of an image. Additionally, research shows substantial gaps remain in the public’s knowledge of the harms of cigarette smoking, and smokers have misinformation about cigarettes and their negative health effects.”

These warnings will occupy the top 50% of the area of the front and back panels of packages and at least 20% of the area at the top of cigarette ads.

“The new cigarette health warnings complement other critical FDA actions, including outreach campaigns targeted to both adults and youth, to educate the public about the dangers associated with using cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products,” added Zeller.

The proposed warnings feature color images and describe the health risks of smoking. “Smoking reduces blood flow to the limbs, which can require amputation,” and “Smoking causes bladder cancer, which can lead to bloody urine,” read two of the warnings.

US health entities support the measure

Several health entities including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Truth Initiative wrote in support of the measure.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today has taken a critical and long-overdue step forward in the nation’s battle against tobacco use — the number one cause of preventable death,” read part of the statement. “The new warnings show and tell the truth about the deadly consequences of smoking and will promote greater public understanding of the many ways in which smoking harms the human body.”

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