Ireland in plain cigarette pack bid

AAP
JUNE 11, 2014
IRELAND has become the first European country to order a ban on branded cigarette packets, following the example set by Australia and New Zealand.
Under new legislation, big tobacco companies would be forced to use standardised packaging and carry harrowing-looking health warnings and images on the boxes and pouches.
If enacted, the new laws will remove all logos, trademarks, colours, designs and graphics except for the make or name of the product which will be in a uniform typeface on a plain background.
The health department says the objective, which is expected to be fiercely contested in the courts by tobacco firms, is to make packets look less attractive, to make health warnings more prominent and to reduce the risk that people, especially children, will be misled about the harmful effects of smoking.
The Cabinet approved the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 at its weekly meeting on Tuesday.
Australia introduced plain, non-branded packaging rules in November 2011 and the proposed legislation in New Zealand is going through parliament.
Other European states are understood to be examining similar legislation.
Dealing with smoking-related disease costs Ireland’s health sector more than 650 million euros ($A975 million) a year.