Health Warnings

Health-warning labels have been required to appear on all cigarette packages sold in the United States for more than 40 years.

The Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965 required the following health warning, prescribed by Congress, to be placed on all cigarette packages sold in the United States:

CAUTION: CIGARETTE SMOKING MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

This warning appeared on cigarette packs from Jan. 1, 1966, through Oct. 31, 1970.

In 1969, the Public Health Smoking Act of 1969 required all cigarette packaging contain the statement:

WARNING: THE SURGEON GENERAL HAS DETERMINED THAT CIGARETTE SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

This warning label appeared on cigarette packaging from Nov. 1, 1970, through Oct. 11, 1985.

The Comprehensive Smoking Education Act of 1984 amended the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act by requiring cigarette manufacturers and importers to display on a quarterly rotating basis the following four health warnings on all cigarette packages: