The Canadian Cancer Society has published a report on the nine countries that have imposed standardized tobacco packaging and the 16 that are working on its introduction, according to a story by Manjari Peiris for the Asian Tribune.
The report is said to show that almost 120 countries and territories require graphic warnings on cigarette packs, and that there is a ‘tremendous international momentum for tobacco plain packaging’.
The number of countries imposing standardized tobacco packaging is expected to accelerate because of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on June 28 that said Australia’s standardized tobacco packaging requirements were consistent with WTO’s international trade agreements.
The Canadian Cancer Society report, Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report, is said to document global ‘progress’ on standardized tobacco packaging.
It ranks 206 countries and territories on the size of their cigarette-pack health warnings, and lists countries and territories that require graphic warnings.
The report found that 118 countries and territories now require graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, up from 100 in 2016. Canada was the first country to require picture health warnings, in 2001.
“There is an unstoppable worldwide trend for countries to use graphic pictures on cigarette packages to show the deadly health effects of smoking, and to require plain packaging,” says Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Society. “For plain packaging, Australia was the first country to implement the measure, in 2012, and now the dominoes are falling.”
Warning size matters
