New smoking laws requiring tobacco companies to print health warnings on every single cigarette they produce for sale in Australia have come into effect.
Today’s changes also mean there will be updated health warnings printed on cigarette packets, which will also have inserts with information about how to quit smoking.
And a phased ban on menthol cigarettes will also kick in today.
It comes after a year-long period for the tobacco industry to prepare for the new rules.
Australia has a relatively low smoking rate compared to other countries, the Cancer Council says, but 66 Australians are still dying from smoking-related illness every day.
Here’s a rundown of the changes.
When do the changes take effect?
Technically, from today.
But tobacco retailers have been given a three-month grace period that ends on June 30.
“During this period, tobacco product retailers can sell or return old stock that was supplied to them prior to 1 April,” the transitional guidelines say.
“This period is intended to allow retailers time to sell or return stock and adjust stock ordering ahead of the date of full compliance.”
That’s because there’s a phase-out period, which allows retailers to sell through stock that complies with the old legislation until July.
It’s hoped graphic warnings like these will help to convince people to quit smoking. (Department of Health and Aged Care)
Ban on menthol cigarettes
Today marks be beginning of a phased ban on menthol cigarettes.
This means that menthol and menthol derivatives are on the list of prohibited ingredients in cigarettes.
However, menthol cigarettes may still be available during the transitional period until June 30.
Why ban menthol cigarettes?
“Menthol masks the harshness of smoke,” Becky Freeman, a professor in public health at the University of Sydney wrote in a piece for The Conversation.
“Just like cold lollies that contain menthol to soothe sore throats and tame coughs, menthol in cigarettes prevents inexperienced smokers from reacting to the rough effects of tobacco smoke in the throat.
“This helps to make smoking a more pleasant experience that young users will return to.”
Individual cigarette warnings
New warnings, referred to by the government as “on-product health messages”, will be printed on the paper covering the filter of each cigarette.
The filter is the orange part of the cigarette, which remains intact as it is being smoked.
The placement of the message on the filter means the message will remain visible even after a cigarette has been used.
Here’s an example of how the warnings will look:
The health warnings will be printed on cigarette filters, which don’t burn down as they are smoked. (ABC News: Jordan Hayne)
What are the messages on cigarettes?
The new laws have standardised the health warnings to be printed on the filters.
“They provide information to help people understand the consequences of smoking and encourage people to stop smoking, or to not start at all,” the federal Department of Health and Aged Care website says.
There are eight short phrases listed in the legislation.
Here’s the wording of those warnings:
- Toxic addiction
- Poisons in every puff
- Causes 16 cancers
- Damages your lungs
- Damages your DNA
- Who is this harming?
- What is this costing you?
- Shortens your life
What are the new packaging laws?
Laws banning branding and requiring health warnings to be printed on cigarette packs have been in place for years now.
But they’ve been updated slightly.
The warning images will now have to cover:
- 75 per cent of the front surface of the pack or carton
- 90 per cent of the back surface of the pack or carton
Here’s an example of what the packaging will look like:
Cigarette packages will be updated under the new legislation. (Department of Health and Aged Care)
Why change the packaging now?
Graph warnings have been effective so far, Sarah Durkin, director of Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research, says.
“But evidence has shown that the effectiveness of the current warnings has decreased over time, as people have become accustomed to seeing the images,” Professor Durkin says.
“We also have new scientific information that extends our knowledge of the health effects of tobacco use.”
She also points out that the new warnings feature some dangers associated with smoking that people might not be aware of, which include:
- diabetes
- erectile dysfunction
- cervical cancer
- DNA damage
- the impact of second-hand smoke on children’s lung capacity
Inserts inside cigarette packs
The new laws will compel tobacco companies to put small leaflets inside the packaging of cigarettes encouraging people to quit smoking.
“Health promotion inserts are small information cards placed inside the retail packaging for cigarette and loose processed tobacco products being sold and supplied in Australia,” the Department of Health website says.
“They highlight the benefits of quitting smoking and provide information on resources, strategies and support services to help people to quit.”
They’ll look like this:
The inserts will include information to encourage people to quit smoking. (Department of Health and Aged Care)
When were these changes announced?
This has been a few years in the making.
Health Minister Mark Butler was talking up these changes back in November, 2022, but they didn’t become law until December, 2023.
“Industry will be given a year to comply to new requirements, with retailers given a further three months,” Mr Butler said at the time.
The legislation also:
- expands advertising restrictions to vapes and any new tobacco products
- restricts product names that falsely imply less harm
- bans the sale of cigarettes with so-called crush balls
- standardises packet and product sizes
