Plain packaging of tobacco products
Following Australia’s example, for this year’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31 the World Health Organisation has called on countries to “get ready for plain packaging of tobacco products”.
- The WHO’s call for action comes at a time when the tide is firmly turning against the tobacco companies.
Plain packaging refers to “measures to restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style (plain packaging)”.
Background:
- Against all odds, Australia was the first country to successfully introduce plain packaging in 2012 and has since seen a decline in smoking.
- Between December 2012 and September 2015, plain packaging together with enlarged graphic warnings and 25% tax increase since 2010 reduced average smoking prevalence among Australians aged 14 years and over by 0.55 percentage points. This reduction is would result in at least 118,000 fewer smokers.
- France, Ireland, and the U.K. have also passed legislation that makes plain packaging mandatory from May 20 this year. All cigarette packets manufactured in these countries will have to be plain, standardised in the same drab green colour with the product name on the pack in a standard font.
- Also, experimental studies, surveys and focus group studies have also found that plain packaging achieves its objectives — deter young people from taking up smoking in the first place than making smokers to quit.
