Tobacco Products
Cigarette Health Warnings
Beginning September 2012*, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States. These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant advancement in communicating the dangers of smoking.
Public Health Impact
Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States, and claims almost half a million lives each year. Requiring larger, more prominent warnings on cigarette packaging and advertisements is part of a broader strategy to help tobacco users quit and prevent young people from starting. The new warnings serve as reminder of the negative health consequences of smoking every time someone picks up a pack of cigarettes or views a cigarette advertisement.
- Watch this video to learn more about the more prominent cigarette health warnings.
- Cigarette Health Warning Announcement - Watch the archived video of the announcement from the White House.
The introduction of these warnings is expected to have a significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy, and lower medical costs.
- Placement of New Warnings on Cigarette Packages and Advertisements
- Timeline: Key Dates for Implementing Health Warnings
- Selection Process for Health Warnings
- FDA’s Authority Over Required Warnings
- View Entire Overview
High Resolution Image Formats
View All of the Images | Access High Resolution Formats | Industry-Only Formats
See the Cigarette Health Warnings in action!
Use our interactive tool to see "before" and "after" images of a retail store with and without the new cigarette health warnings.
*The implementation date is uncertain, due to ongoing proceedings in the case of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, No. 11-1482 (D.D.C.), on appeal, No. 11-5332 (D.C. Cir.).
Additional Resources
Cigarette Packaging and Advertising Compliance Update – Impact of Ongoing Litigation - Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements - Final Rule
- FDA Unveils Final Cigarette Warning Labels - HHS Press Release
Frequently Asked Questions: Final Rule "Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements - Consumer Health Update - FDA Unveils New Cigarette Health Warnings
- Proposed Cigarette Health Warning Images (PDF - 13MB)
- CDC’s MMWR article on Cigarette Package Health Warnings and Interest in Quitting Smoking---14 Countries, 2008—2010