06 Aug 2014
In April 2012, a UK public consultation sought feedback from those with an interest in the policy of standardised packaging for tobacco products
The UK Government has not yet made a final decision on whether to introduce standardised packaging and undertook another consultation in 2014. The purpose of the 2014 consultation is to seek the views of interested people, businesses and organisations, with a focus on gaining any additional information relevant to standardised packaging that has arisen since the 2012 consultation.
The consultation includes draft regulations so it is clear how requirements for standardised packaging would work in practice. Alongside the consultation, we have also published an updated consultation-stage Impact Assessment and Equalities Analysis.
IPH welcomes this opportunity to submit our views on the introduction of regulations for standardised packaging of tobacco products in the United Kingdom (with the consent of ministers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales). IPH was pleased that the Northern Ireland Assembly gave legislative consent to be included in the UK Children and Families Bill amendments in February 2014.
Enhanced tobacco control policies and programmes are an important component of any strategic approach to improving population health and tackling health inequalities. IPH supports comprehensive and effective evidence-based tobacco control measures and works to support the Ten-Year Tobacco Control Strategy for Northern Ireland published in 2012.
IPH responded to the Department of Health (UK) standardised packaging of tobacco products consultation in 20 .In that response, IPH recommended the introduction of standardised packaging as tobacco-related harm is at unacceptable levels. In 2012 IPH raised concerns regarding Roll-Your-Own (RYO) tobacco; IPH is pleased that loose tobacco is included in this latest consultation for standardised packaging.
Access original UK consultation document here
