Introduction Expected 20^th May 2016

The tobacco industry suffered a “decisive” political defeat today, as the House of Lords joined the House of Commons in voting for the standardised (“plain”) packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The regulations under the Children and Families Act were passed without a division. The UK now joins Australia and the Republic of Ireland in introducing the new policy. Standardised (“plain”) packaging will be introduced at the same time as the EU Tobacco Products Directive measures on packaging and labelling, on 20^th May 2016. [1] Standardised packaging will help protect the next generation of children and young people from starting to smoke. Two thirds of current smokers started when children, and half all lifetime smokers will die from smoking related disease. 

The tobacco industry has threatened national and international legal action against the UK Government, but these legal challenges are considered likely to fail. The tobacco industry has waged an expensive but unsuccessful legal campaign against the Australian legislation. In August 2012, Australia’s High Court dismissed constitutional challenges brought by tobacco companies, awarding costs in favour of the Australian Government. The industry is encouraging further challenges from Governments through the World Trade Organisation and under the Australia – Hong Kong Bilateral Investment Treaty, but these are also considered likely to fail. [2]

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH said:

“This is a decisive moment in the long and patient struggle to reduce, and then end, the horrors that the tobacco industry has brought to our country and to the rest of the world. Today we should remember the millions of people who have died too young from diseases caused by smoking, and the families and friends they left behind. And we should resolve for good and all that this misery must not be inherited by our children.”

ENDS

Notes and Links:

[1] Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2015/9780111129876/pdfs/ukdsi_9780111129876_en.pdf
An image of what a standardised cigarette pack might look like is included in Appendix C of the Government’s consultation document: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products-draft-regulations

[2] http://www.ash.org.uk/media-room/press-releases/:standardised-packaging-tobacco-industry-claims-for-compensation-blown-out-of-the-water for UK legal opinion, and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19264245for failed tobacco industry case in Australia. Also see https://www.cancervic.org.au/plainfacts/browse.asp?ContainerID=legalchallenges for opinion on international legal challenge.

Action on Smoking and Health is a health charity working to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco use. For more information see: www.ash.org.uk/about-ash ASH receives core funding from Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

Contact:
Ian Willmore (media) 07976 935 987 (m)
Amanda Sandford (ASH office) 0207 404 0242

Action on Smoking and Health
6th Floor, New House
67-68 Hatton Garden LONDON EC1N 8JY