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23/01/2014
NI In Line For Plain Cigarette Packaging
Northern Ireland is to be included in a new UK law that will see plain packaging introduced for tobacco products.
It was initially feared that the Executive would miss a deadline set by the government to pass a motion allowing Westminster the power to act on behalf of Northern Ireland.
It is believed that, while deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had signed off on the motion, First Minister Peter Robinson has not.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has called on the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to approve the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) that would allow the regulations to be implemented.
Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland said: "The campaign for standardised packaging has gained massive public support because it will protect future generations from being seduced by tobacco industry marketing and will encourage smoking cessation in adults. It would be a catastrophe if it fell at this late stage.
"It is vitally important that Northern Ireland is not left behind the rest of the UK on this crucial piece of legislation. We believe that all regions of the UK should benefit from comprehensive controls on tobacco marketing, which are designed to provide more effective safeguards for children and young people, from the devastating effects of smoking."
There are approximately 340,000 smokers aged over 16 in Northern Ireland. Most current smokers started while still children. It is thought that standardised, plain packaging would make it more difficult to market smoking to children and young people.
Mr McElwee said: "Cancer Focus believes that this measure will be significant in reducing the huge toll that smoking takes on local people’s health. There are 2,300 deaths caused by tobacco in Northern Ireland each year with thousands of others affected by cancer, respiratory and other smoking related illnesses. Today Cancer Focus urgently demands the OFMDFM to sign the LCM by tomorrow (Wed 22 Jan) to move forward with standardised packaging and to protect the health of our children."
(IT/CD)
It was initially feared that the Executive would miss a deadline set by the government to pass a motion allowing Westminster the power to act on behalf of Northern Ireland.
It is believed that, while deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had signed off on the motion, First Minister Peter Robinson has not.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland has called on the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to approve the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) that would allow the regulations to be implemented.
Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland said: "The campaign for standardised packaging has gained massive public support because it will protect future generations from being seduced by tobacco industry marketing and will encourage smoking cessation in adults. It would be a catastrophe if it fell at this late stage.
"It is vitally important that Northern Ireland is not left behind the rest of the UK on this crucial piece of legislation. We believe that all regions of the UK should benefit from comprehensive controls on tobacco marketing, which are designed to provide more effective safeguards for children and young people, from the devastating effects of smoking."
There are approximately 340,000 smokers aged over 16 in Northern Ireland. Most current smokers started while still children. It is thought that standardised, plain packaging would make it more difficult to market smoking to children and young people.
Mr McElwee said: "Cancer Focus believes that this measure will be significant in reducing the huge toll that smoking takes on local people’s health. There are 2,300 deaths caused by tobacco in Northern Ireland each year with thousands of others affected by cancer, respiratory and other smoking related illnesses. Today Cancer Focus urgently demands the OFMDFM to sign the LCM by tomorrow (Wed 22 Jan) to move forward with standardised packaging and to protect the health of our children."
(IT/CD)
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Northern Ireland is to be included in UK-wide regulations on standardised packaging for cigarettes and tobacco. Health Minister Jim Wells said: "Smoking remains the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland. Half of all smokers will be killed by their use of tobacco products.
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