Canada Becomes World’s First Nation to Put Health Warning Directly on Cigarettes

Almost everyone knows smoking is hazardous to your health and the ones around you.

That fact is worth reiterating too and that is why cigarette packs in Malaysia have a health warning reminder paired with a graphic photo of smoking’s adverse effects.

This move has been done by other countries globally too, with some also forcing cigarette manufacturers to only pack their products in generic boxes and barring the display of cigarettes by retailers so as to not entice smokers with colourful packaging and branding.

One of these nations is Canada and soon, it will also enforce another deterrent for smoking: Printing warning labels on the cigarette itself!

As reported by the BBC, beginning this 1 August, Health Canada will compel all manufacturers to print a warning on each individual cigarette, including phrases such as “Cigarettes cause cancer” and “Poison in every puff”.

The decision was made after a 75-day public consultation period last year with the aim to make it “virtually impossible to avoid health warnings” on tobacco products.

With the new regulation, the Canadian health agency anticipates that all tobacco products will feature the new warning label by April 2025.

So, what do you guys think of this move by Canada? Should Malaysia follow suit? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Also read: M’sian Goes Viral After Confronting Man Who Tells Him Off for Smoking at Mamak Restaurant