The United States has very small and weak warning labels on cigarette packs.  Other countries have picture warnings that cover half the pack (click here for example).  If you would like to send an ez-letter to your U.S. Congressional representatives in support of larger health warnings on U.S. packs, go to www.smokefree.org and choose your state.

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Which country will have the largest health warnings on cigarette packs in the world by year end?

Canada? no.  Brazil? no

Canada and Brazil currently have now the largest health warnings, with pictures, but from October 1 2002, the country with the largest health warnings will be Belgium!!!!

European Union Directive 2001/37/EC requires new larger warnings on packs - 30% on one side and 40% of the pack face on the other for countries with one language, but 35% and 50% for countries with three languages.  According to the Royal Decree of May 29 2002, the surface of the health warnings in Belgium (a country with three official languages) should be 35% on one side and 50% on the other side.

The health warnings have to be surrounded by a black border of 3mm which increases the size of the warnings to 46% on one side and 62% on the other side.  If you would like to send an ez-letter in support of larger health warnings in the U.S., go to www.smokefree.org and choose your state.

This information came from Luk Joossens
spokesperson of the Belgian Coalition against tobacco