Public Health Minister Jane Ellison confirmed Government backing for the introduction of standardized packaging of tobacco.
The Government intends to lay regulations for standardized packaging before the end of March this year, with the expectation that the regulations would come into force in May 2016.
The Public Health Minister also said that standardized packaging would bring the prospect of the UKs first smoke-free generation one step closer.
The proposed regulations, published in draft form as part of the last consultation, would standardize the packaging of all cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco for retail sale by:
For more information please see:
Department of Healths news story: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-standardised-packaging-of-tobacco
Hansard extract of the debate on standardized packaging in the House of Commons (see Public Health Ministers speech at the end): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-standardised-packaging-of-tobacco
Under the proposed regulations, this is how standardized cigarette packs would look in the UK (including new requirements set out in the European Tobacco Products Directive): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323980/Image_of_standardised_pack_for_consultation.jpg
The report of the independent review into standardized packaging of tobacco, undertaken by Sir Cyril Chantler: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140911094224/http:/www.kcl.ac.uk/health/packaging-review.aspx