Tobacco products (graphic health warnings)

All retail tobacco products must carry graphic health warnings. These health warnings are placed on tobacco products to deter smokers from continuing tobacco consumption.

On this page

• Warnings
• Risks

Warnings

Warning labels must:

• contain graphic health images
• include warning and information messages
• frequently rotate warning and information messages.

The health warnings must cover 30 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of a cigarette packet. Cigars have their own specific health warnings.

Risks

Using tobacco products has been linked to a variety of illnesses, including:

• lung cancer
• throat cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• stomach cancer
• kidney and bladder cancers
• acute chest illnesses and diseases
• chronic chest illnesses and diseases
• lung illnesses and diseases
• stomach ulcers.

Non-users, particularly children, can also suffer serious illness if they are exposed to second-hand smoke. Women who use tobacco products during pregnancy expose their children to the risk of serious respiratory illnesses. Children exposed to second-hand smoke also have an increased risk of these illnesses, including:

• reduced lung function, especially for infants
• an increase in lower respiratory tract infections during infancy
• impaired lung growth 
• the risk of developing more serious respiratory diseases in later life.