Cancer Charity Welcomes 'Plain' Packaging Of Cigarettes And Tobacco

A cancer charity in Northern Ireland has welcomed new legislation to introduce the 'plain' packaging of cigarettes.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland said it supports the new legislation which means cigarettes and tobacco will no longer be sold in bright packs, but in green packages.

The legislation comes into force today, 20 May.

Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Focus NI, said: "We've been campaigning for this legislation for many years and are delighted to see it come into effect at long last.

"The new standardised packaging legislation will help safeguard many children and young people from the devastating effects of smoking and will encourage adult to stop.

"Most smokers started while they are still children. Seventeen local children become smokers every day and we it's vital we stop the tobacco industry from recruiting yet another generation to use this deadly product."

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson said: "The introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes and tobacco products is another welcome step towards helping protect people from the dangers of smoking.

"I played a key role in driving the Tobacco Products Directive which brought about this change through the European Parliament.

"This will mean all new tobacco packets will be dark green instead of the previous individual brand colours and will feature graphic images of the deadly impact of smoking.

"Research has shown that young people between the ages of 11 and 16 are more susceptible to tobacco advertising than any other age group and this latest restriction will remove one of the last remaining advertising methods."

(CD)