Much larger health warnings on cigarette packs a step closer – Minister Reilly on Government decision

The Government has today (Tuesday, 19th November 2013) approved the General Scheme for legislation to provide for much larger health warnings on cigarette packets. The Cabinet has approved the Heads of the Bill that will make it mandatory for tobacco to be sold in Standardised Packaging which will greatly increase the health warnings and reduce the ability of tobacco manufacturers to promote their brand.

The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013 will outlaw forms of branding such as trademarks and logos on cigarette packs and on roll-your-own packs and will determine the size and positioning of the warnings.

The Government has also approved the recommendation by the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly that General Scheme of the bill be submitted for hearings by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for review and report.

Commenting on the decision Dr Reilly said “the Government is determined to implement this legislation, in particular for the sake of the children and young people of Ireland. Cigarette packs have been described as the last billboard for the tobacco industry; this legislation will force the industry to show with greater clarity, the potential devastating effects of smoking on health. As it stands the tobacco companies use packets of various shapes and colours to attract young people to take up the killer habit. Standardised Packaging – all the one type –with much larger warnings will be a deterrent. Today’s decision by the Government will also contribute to our goal of achieving a Tobacco Free Ireland by the year 2025.”
Minister Reilly added, “Unfortunately approximately 5,200 Irish people die each year from diseases caused by smoking. Fortunately many others give up but this means the tobacco industry must recruit many new addicts each year. Protecting our children and young people from starting to smoke is a key goal for me as Minister for Health. There is a wealth of international evidence on the effects of tobacco packaging in general and on perceptions and reactions to standardised packaging which support the introduction of this measure.”