U.S. Food and Drug Administration released on Tuesday new graphic warnings for cigarette packages as a part of anti-smoking campaign in U.S.

Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States, reads the statement posted on FDA’s official website.

The warning labels will appear on the top 50 percent of both the front and rear panels of each cigarette package.

“The introduction of these warnings is expected to have a significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy, and lower medical costs,” reads the text.

Anti-smoking graphics and inscriptions are installed on cigarette packages in many countries, including Armenia.

Armenia is among world’s leading countries on a number of smokers. Sociologists say 28% of adults smoke in Armenia but the official figures appear to be minimized.  

Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan has recently instructed to take tough measures to punish smoking drivers of public transport.