JUNE 2013 - On 8 March 2013 Thailand's Minister of Health, Dr Pradith Sinthawanarong, signed new regulations that require graphic health warnings to cover at least 85% of both sides of cigarette packages. The new regulations increase the size of the four-colour warnings from the current 55%. The 10 updated warnings depict the negative effects of smoking. In addition, the top portion of cigarette packages will be required to display tobacco cessation information, including a quitline number.

The new regulations were announced in the Government Gazette on 5 April 2013, and will come into effect on 2 October 2013.

Once implemented, Thailand will have the largest graphic health warnings in the world.

More information is available from Dr Sarunya Benjakul of the Ministry of Public Health (dr.benjakul@gmail.com).