Israel Implements Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Packaging Starting August 2
Starting August 2, 2026, Israel will require all tobacco products sold in the country to display graphic health warnings covering 75% of the packaging. This new regulation, part of Amendment 9 to the 1983 Tobacco Advertising and Marketing Restriction Law, mandates that cigarette packs, electronic cigarettes, rolling tobacco, hookah products, and nicotine pouches carry images depicting the harms of smoking alongside verbal warnings and cessation service information. Israel joins approximately 140 countries that have adopted similar policies, nearly 25 years after Canada pioneered the approach.
The Ministry of Health developed culturally sensitive warnings that also include contact details for national smoking cessation services and health fund programs. Packaging will maintain the plain dark color scheme (Pantone 448C) introduced in 2020 to reduce product appeal. Violations of the updated law, such as marketing tobacco products without the required graphic warnings, will be treated as criminal offenses, with fines up to 452,000 shekels for corporations and 226,000 shekels for private businesses.
The tobacco market in Israel remains lucrative despite heavy taxation and marketing restrictions. For example, the distributor Diplomat expects annual revenues of about 2.2 billion shekels from just three cigarette brands. The previous distributor, Globbrands, which held the license for 25 years, derived roughly 45% of its sales from these brands, illustrating the sector's economic significance.
The Israel Cancer Association, which supported the legislation, called the introduction of graphic warnings a significant step but cautioned that it alone will not sharply reduce smoking rates. CEO Moshe Bar-Chaim emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of public smoking bans, increased taxes, further advertising restrictions, and bans on flavored tobacco products. The association also expressed concern about rising use of vaping products and nicotine pouches among youth, with a 2026 survey showing 24% of Israelis aged 16 to 24 use e-cigarettes and 5% have tried nicotine pouches.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos and funded by the Cancer Association, found that 24% of Israelis smoke regular cigarettes, with a higher rate of 34% among men. Hookah smoking increased from 11% to 15%, and cigar smoking rose from 2% to 5%. Notably, 76% of smokers expressed a desire to quit, and 72% regretted starting smoking. Annually, smoking-related diseases cause approximately 12,400 deaths in Israel. The graphic warnings fulfill Israel's commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which it signed in 2003 and ratified in 2005.
