Canada is becoming the first country in the world to require warning labels on individual cigarettes. New rules will come into force on August 1, 2023, requiring health warnings such as, “cigarettes are a major cause of heart disease,” be printed directly on individual cigarettes. Canadians can expect to see warning messages on the paper that wraps around the filter of individual cigarettes, little cigars, smoking tubes, and other tobacco products by the end of April 2024. This type of labelling will boost public awareness of the harms to health from tobacco products. Research shows that health warnings on tobacco products are a proven way to inform those that smoke about the health risks linked to tobacco use.
Smoking tobacco can lead to several diseases and death as it causes respiratory illness, cancers, stroke and heart disease.
Though tobacco use in the general population has decreased over the years, it continues to be a top substance that affects the health and productivity of Canadians. Tobacco-related harms cost Canada $11.2 billion in 2020. In Ontario, 2.2 million people continued to use tobacco in 2017. It is the leading cause of premature death in Canada.
Besides labelling individual cigarettes, health messages and warning on tobacco packages will be strengthened as part of the new Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations under the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. Clear health warnings help educate people of the dangers of using tobacco and play an important role in preventing youth from starting to smoke cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Read the full release on the announcement on the Government of Canada website.