《TAIPEI TIMES》 Teeth, lungs images to cover half of cigarette packages

/ Staff writer, with CNA

Images of stained teeth and charred lungs on cigarette packages from Friday have to cover at least 50 percent of the pack, up from 35 percent, the Health Promotion Administration （HPA） told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.

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The new rules are to take effect following the expiration of a one-year transition since the Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act （菸害防制法） was implemented.

Cigarette manufacturers that contravene the rules face a fine of up to NT$5 million （US$156,897）, while those selling improperly labeled cigarettes face a maximum fine of NT$50,000, the act says.

HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun （吳昭軍） said that while the WHO recommends that pictorial health warnings cover at least 30 percent of cigarette packages, 122 countries and territories require warnings covering at least 50 percent.

In the run-up to the new rules taking effect, HPA officials have traveled throughout Taiwan to promote the policy, particularly at shops run by older people, who might not be aware of the changes, Tobacco Control Division head Lo Su-ying （羅素英） said.

People can report contraventions of labeling rules to their local health department or by calling the HPA’s toll-free tobacco control hotline on 0800-531-531, Lo said.

Data released by the HPA last year showed that 14 percent of people over 18, or those who are legally allowed to smoke, had used tobacco products as of 2022, down from 21.9 percent in 2008.

Broken down by sex, 24.4 percent were men and 3.7 percent women, the data showed.

Broken down by age, 5.8 percent of people aged 18 to 29 were smoker, 13.6 percent of 30 to 39-year-olds, 15.3 percent of 40 to 49-year-olds, 12 percent of 50 to 64-year-olds and 6.6 percent of people aged 65 or older, the data showed.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES