Plain packaging cigarettes
Plain packaging was introduced by Australia in December, 2012 to reduce the appeal of cigarettes and reduce smoking rates.
Plain packaging removes logos, colours, brand images and promotional information from cigarette packages – all packs are a standard colour, with a standard font, and a large, graphic health warning.
Over 20 countries around the world are at various stages of implementing, progressing or investigating plain packaging laws.
Which countries have implemented plain packaging?
These countries have passed legislation to implement or progress plain packaging:
December, 2012
Australia: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All tobacco products sold, offered for sale, or otherwise supplied are now in plain packs.
August, 2016
Hungary: Plain packaging is being implemented, with the first plain cigarettes and tobacco products now being produced. Full implementation is due by May, 2019.
January, 2017
France: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
February, 2017
Slovenia: Law on plain packaging is passed. It is due to come into effect from 2020.
May, 2017
United Kingdom: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
June, 2018
New Zealand: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
July, 2018
Norway: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
October, 2018
Ireland: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
December, 2018
Turkey: Plain packaging is fully implemented. All cigarettes sold must now be in plain packs.
Positive impact of plain packaging.
- Research on the impact of plain packaging on the attitudes to smoking of young Australians.
- Read the study about the association between tobacco plain packaging and Quitline calls.
- For more research see BMJ Tobacco control - April 2015, Volume 24, Supplement 2 Implementation and evaluation of the Australian tobacco plain packaging policy.
More information
Australia
Government: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/tobacco-plain
France
Tobacco Labelling Resource Centre: http://www.tobaccolabels.ca/countries/france/
Ireland
Government: http://health.gov.ie/healthy-ireland/tobacco/standardisedplain-pack-cigarettes
Hungary
World Health Organisation: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/tobacco/news/news/2017/08/plain-packaged-cigarettes-in-hungary-making-kicking-the-habit-easier-for-hungarians
New Zealand
Government: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/tobacco-control/tobacco-standardised-packaging
Norway
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): https://www.uicc.org/news/norway-adopts-standardised-packaging-save-lives-and-prevent-suffering-tobacco-use
Slovenia
Union for International Cancer Control: http://www.uicc.org/slovenia-passes-tobacco-plain-packaging-law
Turkey
World Health Organisation Europe: http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/turkey/news/news/2019/01/turkey-opts-for-plain-packaging-of-tobacco-products
United Kingdom
Government: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/packaging-of-tobacco-products
