The tobacco control industry wants to put all tobacco products in standardised or ‘plain’ packaging. Cigarettes and hand-rolled tobacco would be sold in uniform drab brown packs with graphic health warnings on the front and back. Brand names would be printed in a single identical font.
In April 2012 the government launched a 16-week public consultation on the issue. In total over 650,000 people responded to the 2012 consultation, 450,000 against plain packaging, 238,000 in favour. Subsequently the government decided not to introduce legislation.
In April 2014, following publication of a report on the Chantler Review on standardised packaging, the government changed tack and said it was ‘minded” to introduce the policy and announced a “final” six-week consultation on draft regulations. This time Forest delivered over 53,000 letters to the Prime Minister and the Department of Health opposing the policy. A further 97,000 petition signatures were delivered to the DH which also received an estimated 8,000 emails opposing plain packs.
On August 29 the European Commission notified EU member states of the government’s draft regulations. According to the EC, however, “The UK government has not yet taken a final decision to introduce the regulations”.
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Further reading
Over 235,000 petition against plain packaging
Over 150,000 petition government against plain packaging