Analysis
As of February 7, 2020, plain packaging is required for all tobacco products.
Packages of smoked tobacco products must depict up to four types of required information: (1) health warnings, (2) health information, (3) toxicity information, and (4) warnings directly on cigarettes, little cigars, and tubes.
1) Health Warnings: Health warnings must occupy 75% of the primary display areas (front and back) of most tobacco product packages. In the case of cigar tubes, the health warning must occupy 50% of the display area around the circumference of the tube and 95% of the length of the display area. Health warnings must be displayed in both English and French. Each health warning includes an image, related explanatory text, and the quitline toll-free number and web address.
Warnings must rotate. In the case of cigarettes, little cigars, cigarette tobacco, and tubes, warnings must rotate every 24 months. (The first set of warnings will be in rotation until July 31, 2026.) In the case of any other type of tobacco product, warnings must rotate every 36 months. Warnings within each set must be used, to the extent possible, on an equal number of each type of package of each brand name over the course of a year. The following indicates the number of health warnings issued for each product type:
• Cigarettes: 14
• Little cigars, cigarette tobacco, tubes: 13
• Cigars: 4
• Pipe tobacco: 4
• Waterpipe tobacco (text only): 4
• Other tobacco products (text only): 4
2) Health Information: Packages of cigarettes, little cigars, and cigarette tobacco must display a health information message. The location of the health information message varies depending on the package type and may be a package insert. Each health information message includes an image, related explanatory text, and the quitline toll-free number and web address. The text must appear in both English and French. In total, 13 health information messages have been issued, and they are to be used in rotation over a 24-month period. (The first set will be in rotation until July 31, 2026.) Messages within each set must be used, to the extent possible, on an equal number of each type of package of each brand name over the course of a year.
3) Toxicity Information: All tobacco product packages must display toxicity information. The location and size of the toxicity information vary depending on the package type. For packages with a rectangular cuboid shape in a slide and shell format, for instance, the information must occupy one full side panel. The information must appear in both English and French.
Similar to health warnings, toxicity information must rotate. In the case of cigarettes, little cigars, cigarette tobacco, and tubes, prescribed toxicity information must rotate every 24 months. (The first set of toxicity information messages will be in rotation until July 31, 2026.) In the case of any other type of tobacco product, prescribed toxicity information must rotate every 36 months. Prescribed information within each set must be used, to the extent possible, on an equal number of each type of package of each brand name over the course of a year. The following indicates the number of toxicity information messages issued for each product type:
• Cigarettes: 6
• Little cigars, cigarette tobacco, tubes: 6
• Cigars, pipe tobacco, and waterpipe tobacco: 4
• Other tobacco products: 4
4) Warnings on Cigarettes, Little Cigars, and Tubes: The law requires the explanatory text portion of the health warning to be printed directly on cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes. The display area must be at least 24 mm in length. Messages must be in both English and French. The same rotation requirements as apply to health warnings also apply to this labeling component. This requirement went into effect on the following dates:
• April 30, 2024: manufacturers of king size cigarettes
• July 31, 2024: retailers of king size cigarettes
• January 31, 2025: manufacturers of regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes
• April 30, 2025: retailers of regular size cigarettes, little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes
These provisions meet FCTC Art. 11 and align with the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to location, size, content, and rotation.
