Starting Sunday: Warning images will be mandatory on all smoking products
Starting Sunday, every pack of cigarettes and smoking products in Israel will be required to carry graphic warnings covering 75% of the packaging area. Marketing products without these images will be a criminal offense, with fines reaching up to 452,000 shekels.
The Israel Cancer Association reminded the public on Wednesday that starting this coming Sunday, Israel will join approximately 140 countries worldwide that require graphic warnings, illustrating the health risks of smoking, on all tobacco product packaging. According to the association, this policy covers about 66% of the global population and is considered one of the most effective tools for deterring smoking and raising awareness of its dangers.
The law requiring these deterrent images underwent a legislative process spanning over two decades, from the initial bill to its final approval in the Knesset and the Economic Committee. The Israel Cancer Association emphasizes that while this is a significant milestone, graphic warnings are just one part of a broader set of measures designed to reduce smoking rates and its associated damage in Israel.
In Israel, approximately 12,386 people die annually from smoking-related diseases—more than 1,000 deaths every month. The World Health Organization defines smoking as the leading preventable cause of premature death globally, stressing that there is no safe level of tobacco use.
Under the updated law, marketing smoking products without these warning images is a criminal offense. Tobacco companies and importers distributing non-compliant packs face fines of up to 452,000 shekels for corporations or 226,000 shekels for private businesses.
The new warnings, featuring both images and scientific information, will cover 75% of the packaging area for all products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookahs, roll-your-own tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Each pack will also include a link to the national smoking cessation hotline and HMO resources. The remaining surface will retain the dark brown-to-olive green color—defined as the "ugliest color in the world"—which has been used in Israel since 2020 to eliminate brand colors, logos, and design elements.
The Ministry of Health noted that the warnings were formulated by the Health Promotion Department, accounting for cultural and religious sensitivities, with assistance from anti-smoking coalitions. This move aligns with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which Israel ratified in 2005.
Moshe Bar-Haim, CEO of the Israel Cancer Association, called this a "very significant and dramatic milestone," noting that the images create an immediate link between the product and its health risks, potentially saving lives. However, he expressed concern over rising usage of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches among children and teenagers, urging stricter enforcement of public smoking bans, higher taxes, and a total ban on sweet-flavored tobacco products.
A survey conducted in May 2026 by Ipsos Market Research shows that 84% of the public supports the use of graphic warnings. Among those aged 16 to 24, 57% view this as a crucial step in highlighting the dangers of smoking.
According to the association's data, the 2026 rate of regular cigarette smokers in Israel stands at 24% (34% among men). Electronic cigarette usage is at 15% overall, rising to 24% among those aged 16–24. Usage of hookahs and cigars has also increased, and approximately 5% of young people have tried nicotine pouches. The survey further reveals that 76% of smokers want to quit, and 55% of the public supports raising cigarette prices through taxation.
