NI To Adopt Tobacco Packaging

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.

"Branding on cigarette packets provides one of the last opportunities for tobacco companies to promote their products. Evidence shows that young people are more receptive to this type of advertising than adults. I believe that standardised packaging has the potential to contribute to a further reduction in child and adult smoking prevalence and look forward to this measure being introduced in Northern Ireland."

Standardised packaging will introduce the following measures:

• a standard colour (dull brown on the outside and white on the inside);

• all text on the packaging, including brand name and variant, to be in a standard typeface;

• no branding, advertising or promotion on the pack (except the use of the brand name).

The regulations are due to come into force in May 2016 to coincide with wider tobacco control measures being introduced under the European Tobacco Products Directive.

(IT/CD)