Health warning areas on cigarette packs to be increased

Meltem Özgenç – ANKARA

Turkish government introduced a new regulation on Mach 1 increasing graphic health warning areas on cigarette packs to 85 percent in a bid to discourage the nation from smoking.

According to the regulation realized by the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, both front and back sides of the packages will contain health warnings.

The graphic health warnings, which previously covered 65 percent of the packages, will now cover 85 percent.

The area which covers 10 percent of the package and shows contents of the cigarette will be removed completely, while some 50 percent of the lateral sides will include a general warning and facts about smoking.

Furthermore, all products will have to be sold in plain standardized packaging, with uniform colors, fonts and font sizes.

Brand logos will be completely removed while the brand names will cover only 5 percent of the package with a determined standard color, font type and size.

The regulation will come into effect on July 5 and as of Jan. 5, 2020, all remaining packages not compatible with the new regulation will be annihilated.

Turkey’s fight against smoking commenced when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) imposed a smoking ban in closed public spaces back in 2009.

Turkish government introduced a new regulation on Mach 1 increasing the coverage of health warnings to 85 percent in a bid to discourage the nation from smoking.