The FDA will accept comments on its proposal until Jan. 9, 2011. In June, the FDA will choose nine graphic images from the 36 it has proposed. Cigarette companies will have to include the new warning labels by October 2012. – Reuters Photo

NEW YORK: US health officials issued a proposal on Wednesday for larger tobacco warning labels, including “graphic health warnings” depicting the effects of smoking, to be required on all cigarette packages in 2012.

A requirement for larger warnings on cigarette packages was included in a June 2009 law putting the multibillion-dollar tobacco industry under the control of the US Food and Drug Administration.

The rule calls for cigarette packages and advertisements to include new warning statements in large type covering half of the front back of each package and “color graphic images depicting the negative health consequences of smoking.”

The FDA will accept comments on its proposal until Jan. 9, 2011. In June, the FDA will choose nine graphic images from the 36 it has proposed. Cigarette companies will have to include the new warning labels by October 2012. — Reuters