Warning labels on every cigarette in Canada takes effect Tuesday

Canada will become the first country to require warning labels on individual cigarettes Tuesday when new Health Canada regulations come into effect.

The aim of the decision, announced earlier this year, is to help smokers break the habit and deter people from picking it up.

The warnings will be written in English and French on paper around the filter of every cigarette, cautioning users about harming children, damaging organs or causing impotence and leukemia.

“Tobacco smoke harms children” and “Cigarettes cause cancer,” will be among the first six messages.

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Health Canada says king-size cigarettes will be the first to have the warnings and will be sold in stores by the end of July 2024.

Regular-size cigarettes and little cigars with tipping paper and tubes will feature the new labels by the end of April 2025.

Another set of six warnings is expected to be printed on cigarettes in 2026.

– With files from The Canadian Press

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