The World Health Organization has just published an online database of pictorial health warnings. The database is categorized by topic and by Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Article 11 of the WHO Framework Convention requires Parties to implement large, rotating health warnings on all tobacco product packaging and labelling.

Pictorial health warnings on tobacco packages are a cost-effective means to increase public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use. Guidelines for Article 11 of the WHO Framework Convention recommend that Parties should mandate full colour pictures or pictograms in their packaging and labelling requirements.

The database was developed following a decision by the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention at its third session. It is designed to facilitate the sharing of such pictorial health warnings and messages among countries and Parties. It will be regularly updated as countries and Parties provide these images.

To view the database, go to: http://www.who.int/tobacco/healthwarningsdatabase/en/index.h…

Based on the COP3 decision, it is the FCTC Secretariat that is responsible for all aspects of the copyright and permissions.  Therefore, all requests from countries to use images contained in the database will be facilitated by the Secretariat, rather than TFI.