FDA Requiring Cigarettes to Display Warning Labels.

November 10th, 2010

For the first time in 25 years, The Food and Drug Administration will be requiring cigarette companies to change the packaging for cigarettes. More specifically, it will require graphic warning labels that would cover half of a package’s front and back, as well as the top quarter of all cigarette ads.

The labels would illustrate through drawings or photos of the dangers of smoking and of its addictive and deadly nature. Though virtually all European and South American countries require incredibly graphic and disturbing images on their cigarette packs, the labels on United States packs are expected to not be as grim.

However, they are hoped to be sufficiently frightening enough for young people to quit.

The highest concern of the FDA is the smoking rates, which have declined since 1965 to 2004 from 42% to 21%. However, that rate has remained constant since then. The main goal is to bring the smoking rate down to 12% by 2020.

Other plans of the FDA is to cut down cigarettes are to ban practices such free samples, halting advertising in youth-oriented magazines, and banning misleading terms such as “low-tar” or “light” from the advertising.

The FDA is currently viewing labels, which can be viewed here.