| The
Ministry of Health introduced on Wednesday, October 22,
the new warning images that shall be displayed on the cigarette
packs, based on a resolution from Anvisa which shall be
published on Friday, October 24.
The
new illustrations, among which one of a man with his legs
amputated, have a much stronger impact and will be accompanied
by phrases alerting on the damages
caused by the tobacco to the health of the smokers and even
of children. The objective of the measure is to reduce the
tobacco consumption, responsible for 200 thousand deaths
per year in Brazil.
Among
the new illustrations, the packs will also depict one mouth
and one lung affected by the cancer, one fetus aborted,
one necrosed leg, in addition to rats and cockroaches dead
by arsenic and naphthalene, substances present in the cigarette.
The resolution requires that the images have a black background.
The
tobacco industry must comply with the resolutions within
nine months. After such period, the commercialization of
cigarettes whose packs are in disagreement with the resolution
is strictly forbidden.
In addition
to the illustrations, the packs shall contain the following
warning: “This product contains more than 4,700
toxic substances and nicotine which causes physical or psychic
dependence. No safe levels exist for the consumption of
these substances”. It is forbidden the disclosure
of nicotine levels, tar and carbon monoxide in association
with the brand name of the cigarette.
Packs
shall also contain the warning: “Sale is prohibited
to minors under 18 years of age – Law 8069/1990 and
Law 10702/2003”. The following phrases are prohibited:
“Only for adults” and “Product
for olders than 18 years of age”. Another determination
is that the packs shall display the service number Stop
Smoking Dial Service (0800 703 7033) on a more enlarged
way, for easily visualization.
The
resolution also applies to the cigarette’s publicity
items. Restricted to the interior of sales points, they
shall contain the same illustrations and the warning: “This
product contains more than 4,700 toxic substances and nicotine
which causes physical or psychic dependence. No safe levels
exist for the consumption of these substances”.
Such
alterations are fundamental since there is other information
about the harms of the tobacco that the smoker and the general
population need to know. Also because it is necessary to
constantly perform renewals, since with the lapse of time
this type of measure loses its impact.
Furthermore,
according to a research made by Stop Smoking Dial Service,
79% of the 89,305 interviewed persons told that the warning
pictures should have more impact than the current ones.
Eighty per cent of the interviewed were smokers. The new
illustrations were selected from another research, which
interviewed in São Paulo and Porto Alegre young people,
between 15 and 19 years of age, from the A, B and C classes,
smokers and nonsmokers.
The
requirement for the packs to display warning images entered
into force on February 2002. In April of that same year
a research made by the Datafolha Institute, involving 2,216
participants with more than 18 years of age in 126 municipalities,
showed the following results:
- Seventy-six
percent of the interviewed persons approved the requirement
of the images. The support to the use of the images was
slightly greater among the nonsmokers (77%) that the group
of smokers (73%). Among those holding a university or
a senior high school degree, the support to the measure
reached 83%. It is practically the same percentage found
in the so-called “healthy generation” (“geração
saúde”), the public between 18 and 24 years
old. On that range, 82% supported the measure;
-
Fifty-four percent of the smokers interviewed changed
their mind about the consequences caused by the tobacco
consumption to the health after seeing the images;
- Sixty-seven
per cent of the smokers said they felt like quitting smoking
after seeing the images;
-
Among those with an income up to five minimum wages (R$1,000.00),
73% said that they felt like quitting smoking when they
saw the new packs. In the group of those who studied up
to the junior high school, the percentage was 72%. Such
percentage is also high among the youngest ones: 73% of
those between 25 and 34 years of age said that they thought
about quitting smoking when they saw the warning images.
Between 18 to 24 years old, such percentage reached almost
the same percentage -2%;
- According
to 70% of the interviewed, the warning images are very
effective to prevent the initiation. Fifty-six per cent
said that they believe the method is very efficient to
induce the smoker to quit smoking. On the other hand,
30% believe that the image is not so efficient in the
control of tobacco consumption.
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See
the
new images:
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