In 2002, the Society released a study by Environics Research Group Limited – Evaluation of New Warnings on Cigarette Packages – about the effectiveness of precedent-setting picture warnings in Canada.
Cigarette package health warnings
Cigarette package health warnings in Canada have improved over time:
- In 1989, regulations required a series of 4 text warnings covering 20% of the package front and back.
- In 1994, regulations required text warnings in black and white to cover the top 35% of the package front and back.
- In 2001, Canada became the first country to require picture warnings and the first country to mandate 50% of the package front and back.
- In 2012, picture warnings were required to cover 75% of the package front and back. The Society strongly supports these warnings.
Read more about current tobacco package warnings in Canada.
Great progress has been made

Some cancers, such as thyroid and testicular, have survival rates of over 90%. Other cancers, such as pancreatic, brain and esophageal, continue to have very low survival rates.