World No Tobacco day: Renewed calls for plain packaging

A leading campaigner on the health risks associated with smoking has called for increased efforts to protect children from tobacco.

By Martin Banks

Martin Banks is a senior reporter at the Parliament Magazine

02 Jun 2016

The demand, by Carlos Jimenez-Ruiz, Chair of the European Respiratory Society tobacco control committee, coincided with the 2016 World No Tobacco Day.

Jimenez-Ruiz said, "I firmly believe that plain-packaging for tobacco products is a crucial cost-effective public health policy for reducing tobacco use in young people. Evidence from Australia shows that plain-packaging works. 

"It should be introduced as part of a package of measures including smoke free legislation and smoking cessation support services. Ireland, the UK and France have already adopted measures to protect children from tobacco and I am calling today on all European countries to follow this example."

The World No Tobacco Day event (31 May) comes days after the entry into force of the EU tobacco products directive.

The European Respiratory Society hosted an event in the European Parliament to mark World No Tobacco Day.

It was held in collaboration with the European Network for Smoking Prevention (ENSP) and was timed to mark the introduction of plain packaging on tobacco products in the UK, Ireland and France.

The event focused on tobacco control in Europe with an emphasis on plain packaging - in particular how it can protect teenagers and children.

According to the ENSP, one aim is to highlight the "research-backed benefits" of plain packaging on tobacco products.

The EU tobacco products directive states that picture and health warnings have to cover 65 per cent of the front and back of every packet of cigarettes and tobacco.

Cigarettes and tobacco will have to be sold in plain packaging and menthol cigarettes will be phased out by 2020, according to the directive that came into force on 20 May.

More than one in four Europeans smoke. Half of them will die prematurely, shortening their life by 14 years on average.

 

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