Canada's government has announced stronger measures to discourage people from smoking. From August the 1st, every individual cigarette sold in the country will have a warning label put on it. Canada will be the first country to introduce such messages. The warnings will include messages like "Cigarettes cause cancer," "Tobacco smoke harms children" and "Poison in every puff." The government said: "This bold step will make health warning messages virtually unavoidable." A spokesperson at the Canadian Cancer Society hailed the action taken by the government. He said: "Having a warning on every cigarette sold in Canada is a world precedent-setting measure."

Canada announced its new anti-tobacco strategy on World No Tobacco Day. The government has unveiled other measures to encourage smokers to quit, or to deter people from taking up the habit. There will be 28 graphic pictures highlighting the damaging health consequences of smoking, as well as the harm cigarettes cause to the body's organs. These will appear over the next two years. In addition, all warning labels on cigarette packets will take up a minimum of 75 per cent of the main display area of the pack. Health Canada said the bold steps would increase the likelihood of getting its message across. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Canada.