Iran implements strong pack warning labels
To combat the continuing problem of tobacco use, the Islamic Republic of Iran enacted a comprehensive national tobacco control law in 2006 that established a national tobacco control programme headed by the ministry of health, banned all types of direct and indirect tobacco advertising and marketing, implemented an ongoing series of annual tax increases, and mandated strong health warnings on cigarette packaging, among other interventions.
In 2008, the Islamic Republic of Iran further strengthened its law to require pictorial warnings on all cigarette packages sold in the country beginning in January 2009. These warning labels cover 50% of both the front and back of all cigarette packages and incorporate graphic, full-colour images of diseases caused by smoking. Eight health warnings have been approved for use and will be rotated on cigarette packages over a period of two years, when another set of graphic warning labels will be introduced. Use of misleading terms, such as “mild” and “light”, are also banned. As a result, Iran’s requirements now fully meet the WHO FCTC Article 11 guidelines for size, content and presentation of cigarette pack warning labels, and thus effectively warn smokers about the risks to their health.
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