The Health Ministry has published draft regulations requiring graphic health warnings on tobacco products in addition to the existing written warnings. These warnings will illustrate the damage to health caused by smoking and passive smoking. The regulations apply to various tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, water pipes and chewing or snuff tobacco.

Regarding e-cigarettes, Israel will be one of the first countries in the world to require a combined health warning (both graphic and textual) on e-cigarettes and their components. The regulations stipulate that the mandatory labelling must include both a graphic health warning illustrating the dangers and harms of smoking and a textual health warning explaining the negative health consequences of smoking and exposure to smoke.

In addition, the regulations require the labelling to include information on smoking cessation services, directing users to the Health Ministry’s quitline or cessation services offered by health funds. “This is another significant step in reducing the attractiveness of tobacco products and preventing youth addiction to tobacco and nicotine,” said Health Minister Uriel Busso.