[Intl-tobacco] Czech Repub.: Drastic warning photos to be on cigarette packets

[robert weissman]

Drastic warning photos to be on cigarette packets
Prague Daily Monitor
December 13, 2005

PRAGUE, Dec 13 (CTK) - Drastic photographs and new warning statements are
likely to soon appear on cigarette packets to warn against the health
consequences of smoking, the daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes today citing a
planned regulation of the Agriculture Ministry.

The changes are based on recommendations by the European Commission.

"The EC's decision is not binding. It is only a recommendation. But a
regulation should be issued next year in the Czech Republic which would be
based on the recommendation. Our aim is that it takes effect next year,"
the
ministry's spokesman Tomas Loskot told the paper.

Cigarette producers will have to have the warning against the negative
consequences of smoking placed over at least half of the front side of the
packets.

The EC prepared 42 variants, the main part of which are photographs, for
example of a dead man on the dissecting table or a detail of a larynx
tumour.

Experts from the Czech Health Ministry are discussing the regulation with
representatives of cigarette producers.

"Warning pictures have already been used in Canada, Thailand or New
Zealand.
The experience of these countries show that it really works," Czech
Anti-Tobacco Coalition head Katerina Langrova told LN.

According to experts, one-third of Czech adults smoke and 18,000 Czechs die
because of smoking annually, the paper says.

http://www.praguemonitor.com/ctk/?id=20051213E01056;story=Drastic-warning-photos-to-be-on-cigarette-packets---press