The federal government has given its approval for new and bigger health warning messages, which will have to cover 75 per cent of cigarette packs after March 2012.

The new health warnings, which will cover 75 per cent of the front and back of cigarette packaging, will feature stories from people affected by tobacco use, as well as images including a cancer-infected mouth.
Tobacco manufacturers have until March 2012 to start using the new labels, while retailers will have until June to guarantee all packages on their shelves depict the new graphic warnings. (pi)