FIJI will be the first country in the Pacific to have pictorial warnings on cigarette packs later this year.
The pictorial warnings are part of a Ministry of Health initiative to provide Fijians with accurate information on the effects smoking can have on their bodies.
Ministry of Health national adviser for non-communicable diseases Dr Isimeli Tukana confirmed the dates saying the "implementation phase will be around mid or second half of 2013".
He said the ministry expected the pictorial warnings to allow Fijians to make informed choices before smoking.
"We want to display the well-researched physical consequences of tobacco on packs for Fijians to make informed choices not to start smoking and to allow smokers to make informed choices to stop smoking," Dr Tukana explained.
"The ministry is responsible for informing Fijians of the health impact of smoking and it will continue to improve its work to discourage smoking," he said.
Dr Tukana said tobacco companies were complying saying the companies displayed "excellent co-operation."
"Tobacco has no health benefit to life and the MOH is moving from words to pictures to improve the informed choices of people on what they put into their lungs.
"Oxygen produced by trees is the air of choice for wellness, to inhale 12 to 15 breaths per minute in life and tobacco remains the biggest threat to this wellness lifestyle," the NCDs national adviser said.