Canada Says Tobacco Must Be in Plain Packages
The rules, which will take effect next February, are the strictest in the world.
May 07, 2019
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OTTAWA, Canada – Last week, Canada unveiled its plain packaging regulations for tobacco products, The Globe and Mail reports. The new federal rules—which go into effect next February—mandate that all tobacco products must be in brown packages without any logos or colors, and with the product name in plain script. Large, graphic health warnings must be plastered on the packages, as well.
Canada also will require cigarette packages to be a slide-and-shell design, rather than flip-top design to give the packaging more space to increase the health warning graphics. The regulations also forbid slim cigarettes and “purse pack” sized packaging.
Imperial Tobacco Canada said the new regulations were “bad public policy,” according to Eric Gagnon, who leads corporate and regulatory affairs. “The experience of other countries demonstrates that plain packaging does not change consumer behavior and that it’s a proven way to fuel an already booming illegal market in Canada.”
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada called the move a burden to small businesses, the Montreal Gazette reports. “Instead of addressing the 20% of tobacco that is sold illegally in Canada, government is adding one more burden to law-abiding retailers who don’t sell to minors, comply with display bans, and partner with government to collect and remit most of the $9 billion in tobacco tax revenue every year,” said Anne Kothawala, council president. She added that the plain packaging will make it harder to identify contraband tobacco.
The government announced the regulations as part of its overall plan to lower tobacco use in Canada to less than 5% of the population in under 15 years. Canada joins Australia and Britain with plain packaging laws for tobacco products.
Canada also will require cigarette packages to be a slide-and-shell design, rather than flip-top design to give the packaging more space to increase the health warning graphics. The regulations also forbid slim cigarettes and “purse pack” sized packaging.
Imperial Tobacco Canada said the new regulations were “bad public policy,” according to Eric Gagnon, who leads corporate and regulatory affairs. “The experience of other countries demonstrates that plain packaging does not change consumer behavior and that it’s a proven way to fuel an already booming illegal market in Canada.”
The Convenience Industry Council of Canada called the move a burden to small businesses, the Montreal Gazette reports. “Instead of addressing the 20% of tobacco that is sold illegally in Canada, government is adding one more burden to law-abiding retailers who don’t sell to minors, comply with display bans, and partner with government to collect and remit most of the $9 billion in tobacco tax revenue every year,” said Anne Kothawala, council president. She added that the plain packaging will make it harder to identify contraband tobacco.
The government announced the regulations as part of its overall plan to lower tobacco use in Canada to less than 5% of the population in under 15 years. Canada joins Australia and Britain with plain packaging laws for tobacco products.
Global
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