Say goodbye to smoking: Israel introduces shocking graphic warnings on cigarettes and E-cigarettes

Graphic Warnings on Tobacco Products: A Dramatic Step by the Ministry of Health in the Fight Against Smoking

The Ministry of Health published a draft regulation today (Thursday) that requires graphic health warnings on smoking products, marking a major move in tobacco control.

Under the new regulations, graphic images illustrating the harmful effects of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke will appear alongside the existing text warnings on products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, water pipes, and chewing tobacco. These new measures place Israel alongside other advanced nations, and particularly highlight its role as a global pioneer in requiring graphic warnings on e-cigarettes.

The health warning labels will also include contact information for smoking cessation services provided by the Ministry of Health and health insurance organizations. The Ministry emphasized that reducing smoking is a national public health priority, and it is committed to continuing its efforts to combat this public health issue. The new regulations are designed to raise public awareness and reduce smoking rates in Israel.

Minister of Health, Uriel Bosso, stated: "The Ministry of Health continues to lead the fight against the harms of smoking, with a focus on reducing youth exposure to tobacco products. The publication of the new draft regulations for both graphic and text warnings on tobacco products is an important step towards making these products less attractive, raising public awareness, and preventing nicotine addiction in the younger generation."

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and death. The Ministry of Health is addressing this issue through various fronts, including legislation, public education, limiting access to tobacco products, and strengthening enforcement to prevent sales to minors. Alongside these efforts, the Ministry is working with government bodies, local authorities, and civil society to ensure that young people are not becoming the next generation of smokers.

The Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, added: "Preventing smoking and its harms is a top priority for the Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, the use of e-cigarettes, especially among young people, is on the rise, which also impacts the rates of smoking regular cigarettes. We are taking significant steps to reduce both e-cigarette use and smoking in Israel, including increasing taxes, aligning regulations across products, and raising awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes."

Dr. Sharon Alrai-Price, Head of the Public Health Division at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for public health. The new regulation requiring graphic warnings on tobacco products is another step in the global fight against smoking. Research has shown that such measures reduce smoking rates, and in Israel, the Ministry is also adding a referral to cessation services to ensure this information is as accessible as possible to smokers. This measure is part of a broader program that the Ministry is promoting to eradicate smoking by 2025.