Hey, Miami: Vote Now on New Graphic Photos Placed by FDA as Warnings on Cigarette Packaging: Warning - These are Disturbing to Some

The Food & Drug Administration is asking those of us here in Miami Beach, as well as the rest of the country, to take the time and give them feedback on the new proposed rule regarding what health warnings appear on cigarette packages.

From Friday, November 12, 2010 to Tuesday, January 11, 2011, we can all submit our thoughts to the FDA on what they are proposing be placed on cigarette packaging: and warning, these photos are shocking.

New Federal Law Requires More Graphic Warning Images Be Put on Cigarette Packages (and in Cigarette Ads)

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) is already law -- and it requires that cigarette packaging as well as advertising have bigger and easier to see graphic health warnings.

And by "graphic health warning," we mean scary icky images that are put in a prominent spot on the cigarette package, like the FDA example shown here.

Proposed FDA Rule Will Require the Chosen Images To Accompany Various Warnings

To put the new law into action, the FDA has issued its proposed rule, Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements. This rule will change the current warnings to nine (9) new warning statements that must be given next to selected color graphics that intentionally provide images of the negative health consequences of smoking. All this has to be done and the new packages on store shelves by June 22, 2011.

Proposed Graphic Health Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements

To see all the various selections, check out the FDA website where all these images and their warnings are shown. The image above is one of several proposed to go with the warning "Smoking Can Kill You." And yes, that's a corpse shown in the graphic image. An alternative? A dead man laying in a coffin.

Want to tell the FDA what you think? Here's How.

Go to www.regulations.gov and insert docket number FDA-2010-N-0568 into the "search" box and follow the instructions there, or go the old school way and send a fax to 301-827-6870. If you're really non-techno, then mail a letter to: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Don't forget to include the Docket ID No. FDA-2010-N-0568 in whatever form of message you choose.


By Bryant Esquenazi on November 30, 2010 1:18 PM