Tobacco

Health warnings

From 1 March 2006 all tobacco products imported and manufactured for retail in Australia are to be printed with the new health warning labels. These new warnings provide smokers with information on an expanded range of health effects. In the case of cigarette packs, health warnings now occupy 30% of the front and 90% of the back of pack, with a graphic appearing on both front and back.

Health Warnings on Tobacco Product packaging - Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 2004

A new system of graphic health warnings took full effect from 1 March 2006, through amendments to the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 1994 under the Trade Practices Act 1974. Subsequent minor amendments were gazetted in October 2005 and February 2007. A compilation of the 2004 Regulations and amendments can be downloaded from the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI), under an advanced search using the FRLI number F2007C00131.

From 1 March 2006 all manufactured and imported tobacco product packaging are required to be printed with the new graphic health warning labels.

The Department of Health and Ageing has policy responsibility for the health warnings, while the warnings are administered and enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The new graphic health warnings provide a strong and confronting message to smokers about the harmful health consequences of tobacco products and convey the ‘quit’ message every time a person reaches for a cigarette. The graphic images, in combination with the health warnings and explanatory messages, are intended to increase consumer knowledge of health effects relating to smoking, to encourage cessation and to discourage uptake or relapse.

Cigarettes, cartons, loose tobacco and pipe tobacco

The key features of the health warnings system for most cigarette packs and loose tobacco (roll-your-own) and pipe tobacco packaging are as follows:

• 14 health warnings comprising graphic images, warning messages, explanatory messages;
• a rotation system to optimise consumer learning and awareness of the health effects of smoking. Two sets of 7 health warnings (Set A and Set B) are alternated every 12 months;
• each set of 7 warnings appearing on, or as near as possible to, an equal number of each type of product for each 12 month period;
• a 4-month transition period occurring between November and February (inclusive) each year to allow the phase-out of the previous set and the introduction of the next set of health warnings;
• health warnings covering 30% of the front and 90% of the back of most cigarette packs, with graphics appearing on both the front and back of packs;
• health warnings covering 30% of the front and 50% of the back of most loose tobacco and pipe tobacco pouches, with graphics appearing on both the front and back of packs;
• the national Quitline number and Quitnow website address are included on the back of packs to provide a contact for smokers for assistance with quitting;
• an information message on the health effects of chemicals in tobacco smoke, appears on the side of the cigarette pack. The information message covers one full side of cigarette packets and 25% of one side of cigarette cartons; and
• adhesive labels are not permitted for flip-top, soft pack cigarettes and cartons, but are permitted for pipe and tobacco pouches.

Top of page

SET A and SET B Health Warnings Rotation

Set A and Set B health warnings are rotated annually. The rotation system is set out below. During the transition period, either Set A or Set B may appear on packaging:

• On or before 1st March 2006 - old health warnings or Set A warnings only
• 1 March 2006 - 31 October 2006 - Set A only
• 1 November 2006 - end February 2007 - Set A to Set B transition
• 1 March 2007 - 31 October 2007 - Set B only
• 1 November 2007 - end February 2008 - Set B to Set A transition
• 1 March 2008 - 31 October 2008 - Set A only
• This rotation pattern will then continue for the duration of the Regulations.

SET A Health Warnings

SET A health warnings for cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco are required from 1 March in years ending with an even number. i.e. 2006, 2008, 2010 etc. Set A health warnings are as follows:

See Set A Health Warnings

1. Smoking causes peripheral vascular disease
2. Smoking causes emphysema
3. Smoking causes mouth and throat cancer
4. Smoking clogs your arteries
5. Don’t let children breathe your smoke
6. Smoking - a leading cause of death
7. Quitting will improve your health

Fact sheets and posters have been developed for each of the Set A health warnings, providing more detailed information on the specific health effects of smoking and related issues. Fact sheets are also available in a number of languages (Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese)

SET B Health Warnings

SET B health warnings for cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco are required from 1 March in years ending with an odd number. i.e. 2007, 2009, 2011 etc. Set B warning messages are as follows:

See Set B Health Warnings

8. Smoking harms unborn babies
9. Smoking causes blindness
10. Smoking causes lung cancer
11. Smoking causes heart disease
12. Smoking doubles your risk of stroke
13. Smoking is addictive
14. Tobacco smoke is toxic

Fact sheets and posters have been developed for each of the Set B health warnings, providing more detailed information on the specific health effects of smoking and related issues. Fact sheets are also available in a number of languages (Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese)Top of page

Cigars

The key features of the new system of health warnings displayed on most cigar packaging are as follows:

• 5 cigar-specific health warnings comprising graphic images, warning messages and explanatory messages;
• The 5 cigar health warnings must appear on, or as near as possible to, an equal number of each type of product for each 24 month period;
• Health warnings occupy 25% of the front and 33% of the back of most cigar packages;
• Adhesive labels displaying the cigar warnings are permitted for all cigar products; and
• An information message is not required on cigar packaging.

See Cigar health warning messages

1. Cigars are not a safe alternative to cigarettes
2. Cigar smoking causes mouth and throat cancer
3. Cigar smoking causes lung cancer
4. Don’t let children breathe your smoke
5. Cigar smoke is toxic

Fact sheets have been developed for each of the cigar health warnings, providing more detailed information on the specific health effects of smoking and related issues.Top of page

History of Health Warnings in Australia

Health warnings have appeared on tobacco products in Australia since 1973. From 1973 to 1994 health warnings were required through separate legislation in each State and Territory. The first health warning ‘WARNING – SMOKING IS A HEALTH HAZARD’ was expanded in 1985 to four rotating warnings covering 15% of the front of all tobacco packages.

On 1 January 1995, a Commonwealth introduced system of strengthened health warnings on tobacco products took effect under the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 1994. This new system required six rotating text health warnings on the top 25% of the front of the pack; detailed health information corresponding with the front of pack warning, occupying the top 33% of the back of the pack; information about the tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide content of cigarettes; and a national information line number printed on the back of packs providing callers with recorded information about the health effects of tobacco consumption. These Regulations remained in effect, with amendments, until the current system of graphic health warnings took full effect in March 2006. More detailed information about the history of health warnings is available in the Review of health warnings in Australia - Discussion Paper (see link below).Top of page

Review of text-only health warnings on tobacco products 2000-2004

A review of health warnings on tobacco products was completed in 2004. The first stage of the review was an evaluation of the text-only health warnings which confirmed the need to update and refresh the warnings to include new consumer information on the health effects of tobacco. The second stage of the review was the release of a discussion paper to seek community views on future directions for health warnings on tobacco products in Australia. The discussion paper and related documents are provided below.

• Review of health warnings on tobacco products in Australia - Discussion Paper (PDF 1019 KB)
• Evaluation of health warnings and explanatory health messages on tobacco products - Executive Summary (PDF 231 KB)
• Evaluation of health warnings and explanatory health messages on tobacco products (PDF 1818 KB)

Public comments on the discussion paper fed into the development of a range of options for new health warnings. Reports on the market testing of these are provided below.

• Developmental Research for New Australian Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Stage 1 (PDF 474 KB)
• Developmental Research for New Australian Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Stage 2 (PDF 229 KB)
• Appendix from Developmental Research for New Australian Health Warnings on Tobacco Products Stage 2 - Cigarette Warning Labels (PDF 1287 KB)

A draft Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) canvassing options for new health warnings was released for public comment in February 2004. Following consideration of comments on the draft RIS, a revised RIS was released for public comment in May 2004 and is available on the Department of the Treasury's website.

If you are having difficulty downloading the PDF document(s) please email phd.webmaster@health.gov.au and we will arrange for an alternative format or a copy to be sent to you.