Tobacco Labelling Regulations

Welcome to the Tobacco Labelling Resource

Tobacco packaging serves as a critical link to consumers, both for the tobacco industry and for governments seeking to convey the health risks of smoking. The brand imagery of the package is the foundation upon which all other marketing is built and plays an even greater role in jurisdictions where traditional forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are restricted.

New international guidelines for tobacco packaging and labelling are being established under Article 11 of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)-the first international treaty devoted to public health. Article 11 covers three critical areas: 1) package health warnings, 2) restrictions on misleading information  (including plain packaging), and 3) labelling of cigarette constituents and emissions. This website includes evidence and resources in each of these areas, including answers to common questions such as:

• What kinds of health warning pictures are used around the world?
• Are graphic pictures effective health warnings?
• What is plain packaging?
• Does removing words such as "light" and "mild" make any difference?
• What about other words like "smooth"?
• Is it a good idea to print tar and nicotine numbers on packages?