Not for faint of heart: cigarette packets to get new graphic warnings
The Ministry of Social Affairs has presented the government with a new tobacco bill that sets tougher rules on the packaging and labelling of tobacco products. A key change is the inclusion of graphic warnings on the back of cigarette packets.
Click here to see the designs (Warning: viewers may find some images disturbing).
Starting from May 20, 2016, all cigarette and smoking tobacco, including water-pipe tobacco packets must include one of the 42 approved pictures.
The bill will also see to a ban on all indoor smoking areas without walls and ventilation from June 1, 2017.
In addition, use of vitamins, caffeine and taurine, or other stimulating substances in tobacco products will no longer be allowed. The same applies to all additives which facilitate increased uptake of nicotine. Filters, papers, packages and capsules cannot contain flavorings and scents, tobacco or nicotine.
"Price of tobacco has been consistently increased in Estonia but at the same time, people must be strongly and consistently made aware of the harmful effects of smoking," Health and Labor Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski said.
Editor: M. Oll