TORONTO, ONTARIO – On May 31, World No Tobacco Day, the United Nations announced it is advocating for the use of plain packaging of tobacco products. During his address, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on governments around the world “to get ready for plain packaging.”
Per the World Health Organization (WHO), plain packaging of tobacco products includes restricting or prohibiting the use of logos, colors, brand images or any promotional information other than brand and product names displayed in a standard color and font.
Also on May 31, Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott announced a public consultation that will run until the end of August on plain packaging requirements for tobacco products, “a process to strip cigarette packs of their branding, following similar moves by Australia and the U.K.,” reports the Wall Street Journal.
“I don’t believe tobacco companies should be allowed to build brand loyalty with children, for a product that could kill them,” said Dr. Philpott in an interview. “Research shows that plain packaging of tobacco products is an effective way to deter people from starting to smoke and will bolster our efforts to reduce tobacco use in Canada.”
In 2012, Australia became the first country to fully implement plain packaging, a regulation that has led to “explosive growth of the illicit market” for contraband tobacco sales, says Jeff Rogut, CEO of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS).
The Journal writes that Imperial Tobacco Canada is calling out the Canadian government for its hypocrisy by regulating tobacco while taking steps to move ahead with legalizing marijuana. “Announcing more tobacco regulations is an easy political win that will generate headlines, but do nothing to further reduce smoking rates,” said Imperial Tobacco Canada’s Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Eric Gagnon.
“Plain packaging is a gimmick policy that does not work,” Igor Dzaja, general manager of Japan Tobacco’s JTI-Macdonald Corp. unit, told the news source.
Since 2005, Canada has been regulating how cigarette products are sold at retail locations by requiring “dark” displays where a product is sold out-of-sight of customers, under the counter or in special cabinets.