The Finance Ministry plans discussions on increasing the size of health warnings on tobacco packaging, a measure that could be implemented later this year, the Japan Times reported.

An advisory panel will begin discussion on increasing the current requirement for warnings covering 30 per cent of principal display areas, according to a Kyodo news service account published by Japan Times. The panel is expected to issue a report in May or June, and the current law could be revised by the end of 2016.
Japan’s current health warning requirement is the minimum set by the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The international treaty recommends warnings on at least 50 per cent of the package, including pictorials.