The Government is expected to adopt an EU proposal that would require tobacco manufacturers to show graphic pictures of the harmful effects of smoking on cigarette packets.
The photographic images were shown for the first time in Brussels today by the European Commissioner for Health, David Byrne.
The images will be used in a new €72 million campaign by the commission.
Smoking-related illness is estimated to cost the European economy some €100 billion a year, the equivalent of 1% of European GDP.
The anti-tobacco campaign is expected to be the last initiative as EU Commissioner for the Irishman, whose mandate finishes at the end of next week.
Mr Byrne will then join the World Heath Organisation as a special envoy charged with redrafting international law on controlling communicable diseases, such as SARS and Avian Flu.
