Health Warnings on Tobacco Products—Worldwide, 2007

May 22, 2009 / Vol. 58 / No. 19

MMWR Introduction

Placing health warnings on tobacco packages presents governments with a cost-effective measure to raise awareness of the health risks from tobacco use. Countries can require that packaging include larger health warnings, effective text, and pictures. Pictorial warnings combined with effective text warnings are synergistic and provide the maximum effect in providing information that also increases risk perception and cessation. In addition, pictorial warnings reach out to those segments of the population who cannot read. The World Health Organization urges countries to request for technical assistance for the implementation of picture warnings through the MPOWER package, the "W" of which stands for "Warn about the dangers of tobacco."