S. Korean gov't to impose stronger health warnings on cigarette packaging

The South Korean government has introduced regulations requiring cigarette manufacturers to strengthen health warnings on cigarette packaging starting in late December.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will distribute the updated manual for labeling health warnings on cigarette packaging as a follow-up to the government's tobacco industry regulation revision passed in June.

The new regulation is to take effect on Dec. 23.

The manual requires cigarette manufacturers to include more graphic warnings on their products. A warning about second-hand smoking, for example, includes a rendered image of a newborn child sucking on a baby bottle stuffed with cigarette butts.

According to officials, e-cigarettes will be required to have health warnings on more than half of their packaging.