All tobacco manufacturing companies will need to have pictorial warnings on their cigarette packets come January 1st, next year.

Health Ministry spokesperson Peni Namotu says this is now a mandatory requirement - under the Tobacco Control Decree - following cabinet's approval.

Now we have the labels in writing but it will carry more weight if it will have the actual picture of a lung that has been affected by smoking or probably rotten teeth - some of the impacts cigarettes have on smokers."

The Ministry hopes that with the photographic warnings showing what smoking does to the body - people will turn away from smoking.

Meanwhile - those now found to be selling cigarettes without a license will be taken to task as the registration period has ended

Now it's enforcement time for us - to see that all people selling cigarette now have the license and basically they have to present it when required.

Around 3 million people around the world die from smoking related deaths each year.

Source: FBC News (July 22, 2012)