Proposed Law to Require Picture Warnings on Hazards of Smoking

Cigarette manufacturers will soon be required to print
on the packages of their products colored pictures to
warn the people of the health of tobacco smoking to
human health.

This requirement is proposed under Senate Bill 2147,
filed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban), to protect consumers from trade
malpractices and from substandard and dangerous
products.

“This bill seeks to effectively instill health
consciousness through picture-based health warnings on
tobacco products,” Pimentel said.

“The use of prominent, colored and graphic
picture-based warnings is a very effective means of
conveying to the public in general and to smokers in
particular, the hazards and ill-effects of tobacco
use, including those associated with second-hand
smoke.”

According to the author, these warnings will also
dissuade children and teenagers from smoking
cigarettes and make them aware of its harmful effects.

Pimentel stressed the need to strengthen the
anti-smoking drive in view of findings of a recent
World Health Organization-Global Youth Tobacco Survey
that 27 percent of Filipino teenagers aged 13-15 smoke
cigarettes. This reflects an increase by 30 percent in
the number of youth smokers over the past two years.

Young people are less likely to smoke if they are
aware of the real dangers of smoking and if the appeal
of glamour associated with the cigarette pack is
removed, the senator said.

“By convincing the millions of impoverished Filipinos,
who form the bulk of the smoking population, to stop
the use of tobacco, they will be able to channel their
meager earnings to basic necessities, such as food,
clothing, shelter, education and medical care,”
Pimentel said.

The bill also seeks to remove signs or terms or any
other direct or indirect means in the cigarette
packages that create false impressions about the
health effects of tobacco products, including but not
limited to misleading or deceptive descriptions like
“low tar,” “light,” “mild” or similar terms.