Black lungs, rotting teeth: China urged to use graphic warnings on cigarette packs
WHO, mainland experts argue that simple text warnings are no longer an effective deterrent
China’s cigarette packages need more graphic warnings like rotting teeth and blackened lungs to replace less effective text labels, say mainland experts backing a WHO-led campaign that has faced resistance from the tobacco industry and some areas of government.
Liang Xiaofeng, vice-director of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said graphic warnings may be the most direct and effective way to curb smoking, which gives rise to diseases that “severely threaten public health”.
The World Health Organisation and the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project released a report on Tuesday saying China could bring down the number of smokers with more vivid, large-format warnings on the packaging, Xinhua reported.
Currently, cigarette packs in the country – the world’s biggest tobacco producer and consumer – have labels such as “Smoking is hazardous to your health”, but experts say these text warnings are no longer reducing smoker numbers, without giving specifics.
Dr Bernhard Schwartlnder, a WHO representative in China, told the state news agency that smokers had a better chance of noticing graphic health warnings.
Despite China ratifying the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005, which recommends graphic warnings, among other measures, there has been sluggish government action.