Tobacco packaging: Sweeping new labeling regulations set to go into effect on tobacco products
-- Packaging Digest, 6/21/2010 12:32:24 PM
A year ago, Congress and President Obama gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products. On June 22, 2010 several key provisions will take effect:-- Ban cigarette labels such as "light," "mild" and "low-tar,” which can be used to falsely portray
some cigarette brands as safer than others;
-- Require larger, bolder health warnings on smokeless tobacco products and advertising (large, graphic warnings for cigarette packs and advertising are being developed and will take effect later).
-- Crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids.
Pursuant to the law, the FDA has already banned candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes that appeal to kids. This has eliminated cigarettes in flavors such as toffee, mocha mint, lime, vanilla and strawberry that the tobacco companies introduced in recent years.
The FDA has also established a Center for Tobacco Products and appointed a Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. The Committee has begun its investigation of the use of menthol in cigarettes, and it soon will examine the new dissolvable tobacco products that often are shaped, flavored and packaged like candy. The FDA has also required industry disclosure of the contents of and research about tobacco products so the public can be better informed and the agency has the information to establish effective regulations that protect public health.
Tobacco companies have challenged the new marketing restrictions in court, but most provisions were upheld by a federal judge. Some companies have sought to circumvent the ban on flavored cigarettes by introducing clove cigars that look and, according to news reports, taste like cigarettes.
New Warning Labels
Beginning on June 22, all smokeless tobacco products must carry much larger health warnings. The warnings must cover 30 percent of principal package display panels and 20 percent of advertising.
Cigarette packs will soon be required to have large, graphic health warnings that cover the top half of the front and back of the pack. These warnings will feature color photos and graphics depicting the harmful consequences of smoking, such as lung cancer, heart disease and impotence. The new cigarette warnings must be in place by 2012 or sooner.
As smoking rates have declined and restrictions on smoking have multiplied, tobacco companies have introduced new smokeless tobacco products and significantly increased marketing for them. Some of these new products look like candy, are flavored like candy, and have colorful packaging like candy.
Government surveys have found that, while cigarette smoking has declined, smokeless tobacco use has increased by more than 33 percent among 10th and 12th graders in recent years.
SOURCE: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Legacy
.
Talkback
No related content found.
Sponsored Links
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
