The mandatory standard prescribes the labelling, including explanatory, information, warning messages and graphics and their rotation, for tobacco products.
About the mandatory standard
A mandatory information standard exists for the health warning labelling of tobacco products. It applies to all labelling for retail tobacco products, whether manufactured in, or imported into, Australia.
Mandatory standard
The Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011 sets out the mandatory requirements for the health warning labelling of retail tobacco products.
Tobacco products must also comply with the requirements of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 and the Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011. Visit Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website for full details.
Health warning labelling
The labelling must have:
- warning statements
- graphics
- explanatory messages
- information messages
Coverage
The health warnings must cover a significant part of a retail tobacco package. For example, for cigarettes they must be 75 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of a cigarette packet.
Cigars and other tobacco products have their own specific requirements, all of which are clearly outlined in the mandatory information standard.
Rotation
The health warnings must be rotated in accordance with the schedule prescribed in the mandatory information standard.
Related resources
Tobacco health warnings: supplier guide
