on Ukrainian cigarette packets are also visually similar to those in European Union countries: United Kingdom In 1971, tobacco companies printed on the left side of cigarette packets "WARNING by H.M. Government – SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH". In 1991, the EU tightened laws on tobacco warnings. "TOBACCO SERIOUSLY DAMAGES HEALTH" was printed on the front of all tobacco packs. An additional warning was also printed on the reverse of cigarette packs. In 2003, new EU regulations required one of the following general warnings must be displayed, covering at least 30% of the surface of the pack: Smoking kills - quit now Smoking seriously harms you and others around you Additionally, one of the following additional warnings must be displayed, covering at least 40% of the surface of the pack: Smokers die younger Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes Smoking causes fatal lung cancer Smoking when pregnant harms your baby Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke Your doctor or your pharmacist can help you stop smoking Smoking is highly addictive, don't start Stopping smoking reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases Smoking can cause a slow and painful death Get help to stop smoking: [telephone]/[postal address]/[internet address]/consult your doctor/pharmacist Smoking may reduce the blood flow and cause impotence Smoking causes ageing of the skin Smoking can damage the sperm and decreases fertility Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide From October 2008, all cigarette products manufactured must carry picture warnings in the reverse. Every pack must have one of these warnings by October 2009. Plain packaging, including prominent and standardised health warnings and minimal manufacturer information, became compulsory for all cigarette and hand-rolling tobacco packs manufactured after May 2016 and sold after May 2017. United States In 1966, the United States became the first nation in the world to require a health warning on cigarette packages. In 1973, the assistant director of Research at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company wrote an internal memorandum regarding new brands of cigarettes for the youth market. He observed that, "psychologically, at eighteen, one is immortal" and theorized that "the desire to be daring is part of the motivation to start smoking." He stated, "in this sense the label on the package is a plus." In 1999, Philip Morris USA purchased three brands of cigarettes from Liggett Group Inc. The brands were: Chesterfield, L&M, and Lark. At