The UK government is to call upon MPs to pass UK legislation ruling that domestic cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco must be sold in ‘standardised packs’.

This was the announcement made last night by the UK Department of Health which says it is introducing the move ‘after carefully considering the evidence for standardised packaging and other relevant information’, according to Public Health Minister Jane Ellison.

The government is now expected to call for a free and open vote by MPs before the parliamentary recess and the general election campaigns begin in the spring. The Department of Health (DOH) also confirmed today that while it is backing the move, Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would need to confirm whether they consent to any new such regulations applying to these parts of the UK.

 

In a statement, Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: “Smoking remains one of our most significant public health challenges. It is a major cause of cancer, heart and respiratory disease and almost 80,000 people in England alone die every year from ill health caused by smoking. It places an enormous strain on the NHS.

“Having considered all the evidence, the Secretary of State and I believe that the policy is a proportionate and justified response to the considerable public health harm from smoking tobacco. The Chief Medical Officer has confirmed this view.

 

LOOKING FOR A SPEEDY DECISION

“I now propose that we lay regulations for standardised packaging in this Parliament to allow for them to come into force at the same time as the European Tobacco Products Directive in May 2016. In doing so we would be bringing the prospect of our first smoke-free generation one step closer.”

 

According to the DOH, the proposed regulations, published in draft form as part of the last consultation, would standardise the packaging of all cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco for retail sale by specifying mandatory colours for retail packaging (dull brown for the outside and white for the inside); permitting only specified text (such as the brand and variant name) and making sure any permitted text conforms to particular requirements; and by allowing required markings such as health warnings and fiscal marks (including covert markings and any future requirements that may be introduced to tackle illicit trade) to remain in place.

 

The DOH added that the European Tobacco Products Directive will bring in a wider range of tobacco control measures, including larger picture health warnings, and a ban on flavourings, including menthol, plus ‘packaging controls’ to combat illicit trade.

 

 

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England added: “I welcome the Government’s backing for this policy. I have reviewed the evidence, and agree that standardised packaging would be a positive move for public health, particularly the role it could play in helping to prevent the uptake of smoking by children.

 

“We have seen smoking rates decline, but smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable mortality. We need to keep up our efforts on tobacco control and standardised packaging is an important part of that.”

 

PACKAGING MOVE CONDEMNED

Meanwhile, the pro-lobby group Forest (Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco) has condemned the government’s decision to bring forward plain cigarette packaging legislation before the end of this parliament.

 

Simon Clark, Director of Forest which runs the ‘Hands Off Our Packs campaign’, said: “The government is taking a huge risk. There’s no evidence plain packaging reduces smoking rates, but there is evidence it increases illicit trade. This decision has nothing to do with health. It’s politics, pure and simple.

 

“Next year, under the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive, health warnings will increase in size. The government should wait and assess the impact of that policy before proceeding with even more regulations.”

 

Adding his comments, Christopher Snowdon, Director of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs (a free-market think-tank) said: “This is a gross infringement of the right of companies to use their trademarks and design their own packaging.

 

“There is no need to wonder what will happen next, we need only look at Australia where the black market has grown and youth smoking has risen. To pursue this grandstanding policy in spite of the Australian experience is sheer negligence.”