Under the motto "Yes for pictorial warnings on tobacco packs, no for misleading messages", the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins all other countries in commemorating the World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2009. According to the Managing Director of the Arabic Center for Tobacco Prevention Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Baddah, the activation of this motto contributes effectively in raising awareness among tobacco consumers, including the ordinary public, on the direct risks caused by using tobacco products as well as the indirect risks caused by compulsory subjection to tobacco smokes.
"Article 11 of the frame agreement for preventing tobacco states that tobacco products must bear pictorial warnings on both front and back sides", he said, adding that such pictorial warnings must be large and provide clear information on risks involved in tobacco consumption, especially the diseases it causes", he said.
He said including health warnings on tobacco packages is the best and cheapest way for highlighting the hazards involved in tobacco consumption. "Tobacco companies are paying millions of dollars in extensive promotional campaigns for attracting new young users and keeping the current users from quitting" he said.
He said many tobacco users are not aware of its dangers when they start smoking because tobacco companies skillfully decorate their products to attract them. "A study in Canada (the first country to implement pictorial warnings) has shown that about 58 per cent of smokers expressed their intention to quit smoking due to effects caused by the pictures", he said, adding that studies in Brazil, Singapore, and Thailand, provided similar results.
Dr. Al-Baddah urged all governmental and non governmental bodies to continue their efforts for enforcing tobacco industry to include pictorial warnings on their products packages. "The current standards for tobacco products must be updated in conformity with the requirements of the frame agreement", he said. He said the obstacles to be caused by the tobacco industry and trade must be taken into consideration, denoting that tobacco companies might not place the pictures in the proper way or might try to delay the regulations to be adopted in this respect.