Canada is introducing measures to discourage smoking. From August, every cigarette sold will have a warning message printed on it. Canada is the first country to do this. Messages will include: "Cigarettes cause cancer" and "Poison in every puff." The government said this would "make health warning messages virtually unavoidable." A cancer society hailed the action as "a world precedent-setting measure."

Canada announced its plan on World No Tobacco Day. It has unveiled other anti-smoking measures to deter people from smoking. Cigarette packs will have graphic pictures highlighting the health consequences of smoking on the body's organs. In addition, warning labels will take up a minimum of 75 per cent of the display area of cigarette packs. Health Canada said these steps would help to get its message across.