March 20, 2020

On March 17, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule to require new health warnings on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements. This action promotes awareness of the negative health effects of cigarette smoking.

The cigarette health warnings feature text statements and images depicting lesser-known, but serious, health risks including the impact to fetal growth, cardiac disease, and diabetes.

Beginning June 18, 2021, the FDA is requiring the warnings to appear prominently on cigarette packages and in advertisements. They must occupy the top 50% of the front and rear panel areas of cigarette packages and at least 20% of the top area of cigarette advertisements.

Once implemented, cigarette companies must randomly display and distribute warning labels on packages and rotate the warnings quarterly in advertisements.

The FDA encourages small businesses to use the “Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements: Small Entity Compliance Guide” for understanding and complying with the final rule.

Read the full FDA press release.