Package and labelling

The Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) requires cigarettes, roll-your-

own tobacco and waterpipe tobacco to carry combined health warnings
consisting of a picture from the EU picture library, a text warning and
information on stop smoking services. EU countries may also choose to apply
the same requirements to other tobacco products such as cigars, cigarillos
and pipe tobacco. The warnings should cover 65% of the front and back of
packages. Tobacco products with combined health warnings must also carry
a general warning and information message.

The EU picture library

The EU library features 42 pictures laid down in Commission Delegated

Directive 2014/109/EU of 10 October 2014.

The pictures were developed by external contractors and tested on 8.000

participants in 10 EU countries. Further information on the combined health
warnings can be found in the Q and A on Combined health warnings.

Layout and position of health warnings

In order to specify the layout of the combined health warnings and the position
of health warnings on roll-your-own tobacco pouches, the Commission has
adopted two implementing acts:

 Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1842 of 9 October 2015

on the technical specifications for the layout, design and shape of the
combined health warnings for tobacco products for smoking
 Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1735 of 24 September
2015 on the precise position of the general warning and the information
message on roll-your-own tobacco marketed in pouches

In developing these acts, the Commission asked an external contractor to

provide it with technical input on the implementation of warning messages on
tobacco packages, according to the provisions of the Directive. The final
report can be found here. Please see page 177 for suggestions of how to edit
of the combined health warnings prepared by the contractor.

Combined health warnings in the EU

Tobacco packages must carry combined health warnings in the official

language(s) of the EU countries where they are sold.