The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed 36 pictorial health warnings that will have to be put on cigarette packages by October 2012 and seeks public comment.

Federal health officials Wednesday unveiled plans to replace the warnings cigarette packs began carrying 25 years ago with new versions using images that could include emaciated cancer patients, diseased organs and corpses, reports the Washington Post.
The FDA will gather public comment on 36 proposed images until 9 January 2011 and select nine by 22 June after reviewing the scientific literature, the public comments and a study involving 18,000 people. Beginning 22 October 2012, any cigarette makers that do not put the new warnings on their packaging will not be allowed to sell their brands in the United States. (pi)