APRIL 2011 - Malta has announced that it is now mandatory to include pictorial warnings on tobacco packaging, in response to non-compliance from several retailers to Legal Notice 302 of 2009 on the use of such warnings. The Environmental Health Directorate in Malta has warned retailers that any further non-compliance will result in legal action, adding that all existing stock which does not comply must be removed from sale by 22 June 2011.

The warnings will include colour photographs from the European Commission library and cover at least 45% of the most visible external surface of tobacco packaging. Images will rotate on an annual basis, to maintain user attention and strengthen impact.