MOSCOW - Cigarette packs across Russia must now carry health-warning messages, as part of the country's efforts to enhance awareness of smoking-related diseases, Hindustan Times reports.

While the law takes effect for all new packs produced in Russia, previously produced packs without warnings will be allowed in distribution through the end of the year, the Russian health and social development ministry said last week.

Under the new law, tobacco companies must print messages announcing smoking's harmful effects, with a main "Smoking Kills" message in a black frame covering at least 30 percent of the pack's front and an additional message that covers at least 50 percent of the back.

Twelve additional cautionary statements, including "smoking causes lung cases," "smoking causes heart attacks and strokes," smoking can lead to male impotency," and "keep children away from tobacco smoke" must also be rotated (tobacco companies will be allowed to change the message once each year with accompanying pictures and graphics).

Additionally, tobacco manufacturers must display on the packets the amount of nicotine and resin contained in the cigarettes, with the amount of carbon dioxide in smoke from a filtered cigarette not to exceed 10 milligrams.