May 25, 2012

Grim graphic images depicting the impact of smoking on human health will appear on all cigarette packs in Russia starting in May 2013, the Health and Social Development Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry published on its website a list of 13 pictures that are to adorn cigarette packs. Visual images range from sick infants to blackened lungs while accompanying warnings including “Self-Destruction,” “Periodontitis” and “Erectile Dysfunction.”

Cigarette and tobacco packs in Russia currently only bear written warnings to smokers.

Russia is the world leader on smoking, with more than 39 percent of the adult populace, or 43.9 million people, being addicted to tobacco, according to WHO’s Global Adult Tobacco Survey, held in 2007, said acting Health and Social Development Minister Tatiana Golikova.

Smoking kills about 400,000 Russians a year, Golikova said.

Seventy-eight percent of smokers in countries that depict consequences of smoking on cigarette packs approved the introduction of gruesome illustrations, Golikova said. Countries that put graphic images of the consequences of smoking include Australia, India and European Union members.

The Russian government is mounting an anti-smoking campaign which is to include stricter rules on smoking in public places and a drastic increase in cigarette prices in the form of taxation.

Source: RIA Novosti (May 11, 2012)

May 25, 2012

Kazakhstan has finalized requirements for a series of 12 rotated picture-based health warnings to appear on 40% of the package front (in Kazakh) and on 40% of the package back (in Russian).  The picture warnings will start to appear on packs part way through 2013.

The regulations were signed by the Prime Minister on November 22, 2011 (Regulation 1366).  The regulations come into effect 10 days after official publication.  The warning requirements in the regulations come into force 18 months after the regulations come into effect.

The Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia has been considering adopting a technical regulation on package warnings that would apply to all three countries.  If such a regulation is adopted, depending on the timing, then the new Russian requirements may not come into force and instead would be replaced by the requirements of the Customs Union regulation.

There are at least 55 countries/jurisdictions that have finalized requirements for picture warnings.

To view the 12 picture-based warnings, and a copy of the Regulations, visit:http://tobaccolabels.ca/healthwarningimages/country/kazakhstan

Additional information can be found at:http://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/kazakhstan

Source: Rob Cunningham