Government stalls on move to standardise cigarette packaging

Leading local charity Cancer Focus Northern Ireland today criticised the UK Government on its lack of action to introduce standardised, unbranded packaging for cigarettes.

The Government has announced that it will not introduce plain packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products at the current time, but will keep the policy under review.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death globally and kills one in ten adults worldwide. The packaging of tobacco products remains one of the last overt forms of tobacco promotion allowed in the UK.

Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Focus, said:

“Cancer Focus is appalled that the Government has decided to further delay the introduction of standardised packing for cigarettes. The public consultation on plain packs concluded in August 2012 and since then over 9,000 children in NI have started smoking.

“The Government must recognise that standardised cigarette packaging will help stop young people becoming hooked on a lethal product which kills half its users.  We demand legislation that will protect our young people from seductive, highly branded, brightly coloured packs designed to glamorise tobacco. This policy is urgently needed to protect public health and in particular, children’s health. Every day we delay action allows the tobacco industry another opportunity to recruit the next generation of smokers.”

The UK Government continues to stall due to strong opposition from the tobacco industryi despite the majority of the public supporting standardised packaging: a poll on the issue by YouGov, conducted for ASH in February 2013, found that overall 64% of adults in Great Britain were in favour of the proposal.[i]  The Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh Governments have also stated their support for the policy.

Australia introduced standard packs on 1st December 2012 and the Republic of Ireland has committed to making the move to non-branded packs in 2014.

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