Health Warnings/Messages Features

Last updated: March 7, 2025

Type of product: Smoked Tobacco Products

Pictures (Photos), Text Warnings/Messages
Type of Warnings / Messages Required
60% of Front, 60% of Back, 100% of Side(s)
Location and Size of Warnings / Messages on Unit Packaging
1
Number of Warnings / Messages Authorized to Be Displayed on Front / Back at Any Given Time
Required
Rotation
Specified- two years
Length of Rotation Period
Analysis

Combined picture and text health warnings must cover 60% of the front and back of the tobacco product package. Currently, three health warnings have been prescribed, with one warning to appear at a time for a period of up to 24 months. For cigarette cartons, text-only warnings are required to cover 60% of the front and back surfaces.

The law requires descriptive only information on constituents and emissions on 100% of the lateral side of cigarette packaging. There are varying placement requirements for other types of tobacco products.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to requiring warnings that occupy at least 50% of principal display areas and that contain both pictures and text.

Type of product: Smokeless Tobacco Products

Pictures (Photos), Text Warnings/Messages
Type of Warnings / Messages Required
60% of Front, 60% of Back, Other
Location and Size of Warnings / Messages on Unit Packaging
1
Number of Warnings / Messages Authorized to Be Displayed on Front / Back at Any Given Time
Required
Rotation
Specified- two years
Length of Rotation Period
Analysis

Combined picture and text health warnings must cover 60% of the principal display area of a tobacco product package.

The law requires descriptive only information on constituents and emissions on tobacco product packaging with varying placement requirements.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 11 and the FCTC Art. 11 Guidelines with respect to requiring warnings that occupy at least 50% of principal display areas and that contain both pictures and text. To more fully align, the law should require warnings specific to smokeless tobacco products.