Cigarette Package Health Warnings and Interest in Quitting Smoking—14 Countries, 2008-2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires health warnings on tobacco product packages sold in countries that ratified the WHO FCTC treaty. These warnings are expected to (1) describe the harmful effects of tobacco use; (2) be approved by the appropriate national authority; (3) appear on at least 30%, and ideally 50% or more, of the package's principal display areas; (4) be large, clear, visible, and legible in the country's principal language(s); (5) have multiple, rotating messages; and (6) preferably use pictures or pictograms. To assess the effects of cigarette package health warnings on interest in quitting smoking among smokers of manufactured cigarettes aged greater than equal to 15 years, here, details examining the 2008-10 data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 14 WHO FCTC countries are reported. Among other things, a CDC editorial note is included.