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Tobacco packs to have pictorial warnings from next August

The aim is to implement the new regulations by August of 2012, Mohamed Badri, Acting Director General of Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (Esma) told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.

“The technical specifications for the cigarette packaging for the GCC region were approved in a meeting held at the end of last month,” said Badri, adding that the approval was a ‘big achievement.’ “On the country level, the matter will be put up to Esma’s Board of Directors next month after which it will be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval,” he explained.

He elaborated that once approved by the Cabinet and published in the official gazette, it will be mandatory for the tobacco companies to comply with the new rulings within six months.

Five strong images have been approved for use after the health authorities pre-tested 24 on 128 people. “Only strong emotional messages will be needed to achieve an effect that can get people to quit smoking,” said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the UAE National Committee for Tobacco Control at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The graphics that will replace the written word will be revised every one to two years. Nearly half of the cigarette pack will be covered by the pictures.

Tobacco companies spend millions of dollars to make products attractive to the public. They use packaging as an important tool to appeal to, and attract, new customers, while distracting consumers from the harsh reality of how tobacco destroys health.

Local tobacco companies have already been informed that products that do not follow the new requirements will not be marketed in the country.

Other than packaging, levels of nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide in each cigarette brand are being checked and they cannot exceed the maximum set of international standards, said Badri.

A total of 23 countries in the world now include pictorial health warnings, with messages reaching more than 700 million people. In the eastern Mediterranean region, pictorial warnings are found in Egypt, Jordan, Iran and Djibouti. — asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

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