By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Cigarette packets made from 2009 onwards will contain warnings about the harmful effects of smoking and the carcinogenic substances found in cigarettes.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Friday that a bill, concerning the overall change in cigarette packs, was passed at the National Assembly plenary session.
Under the new law, every cigarette pack made from 2009 must display a warning on the front and back and also list the six carcinogenic substances contained in cigarettes.
As of now, only two substances ― nicotine and tar ― are printed on the package.
The six substances, confirmed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), include nickel, benzene, arsenic, cadmium, vinyl chloride and naphthylamine.
``Smoking cigarettes generates huge social costs including medical treatment,'' said Rep. Yang Seoung-jo of the United New Democratic Party. ``A price increase of cigarettes may be one answer. But it is also necessary to expose smokers to a warning, resulting in raising awareness of the harmful effects of smoking.''
Noting some examples regarding anti-smoking movements overseas, the lawmaker said, ``Smokers have the right to know the carcinogenic substances to which they are exposed in their daily lives.''
The revised bill was initially drafted to take effect from July next year. Taking the procedures for the change into account, however, the Assembly decided to launch the transformation in 2009.