Introduction Tobacco smoking is the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia.

While smoking prevalence in Australia has declined over time, over three million Australians, or about one fifth of the population, still smoke on a regular basis. Continued effort is therefore appropriate to maintain the decline with a view to reducing the social and economic costs of tobacco use to the community. New graphic health warnings on tobacco products will make an important contribution to this effort. From 1 March 2006 tobacco products manufactured or imported into Australia will be required to be printed with the new health warnings images. The new set of 14 health warnings, comprising graphic images and explanatory messages will cover 30% of the front and 90% of the back of cigarette packs. The national Quitline number and website address will also be included. A rotation system has been developed to optimise consumer learning and awareness of the health effects of smoking. Two sets of seven health warnings (Set A and Set B) will be alternated every 12 months. (Set A takes full effect on 1 March2006, and Set B on 1 March 2007. Fourteen stark images focus on the major smoking-related health topics including lung cancer, emphysema, peripheral vascular disease, heart disease, macular degeneration, environmental tobacco smoke, foetal exposure to the toxins in tobacco smoke, smoking as a leading cause of death, and the benefits of quitting. Below is additional information on each of the health effects addressed in the Health Warnings campaign. To view the graphic labels, visit http://www.quitnow.info.au/warnings/warnings.htm.

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