British authorities are still thinking about prohibiting company logos on cigarette packages despite the fact that it disregarded recommendations from its legislative schedule presented in parliament several days ago, Prime Minister David Cameron mentioned.
Britain is planning to become the first European country to demand cigarette manufacturers to introduce plain packaging, an action toughly opposed by the tobacco industry, which views it as damaging their revenue. Cameron stated the parliament that the government was still looking at the matter.
The Department of Health conducted more than 4 months of discussions in 2019 to collect facts on whether standard cigarette packaging would dissuade young smokers and support present smokers quit the habit. “This is a crucial decision and we are carefully looking at what is going on all over the world,” a department representative stated. A year ago, Australia applied a legislation stating cigarettes should be sold in green packages using graphic health warnings.
Cuba, whose luxurious cigars are well known all over the world and feature distinct packages, released a challenge against the Australian law at the World Trade Organization last week. Regardless of its shortage from the government’s strategies, the chief of the opposition Labour Party proposed to assist pass through any offered legislation. “If he prefers the bill on cigarette packaging, we will support him get it through,” Ed Miliband mentioned. “It is the proper issue to take care of public health and it is the right thing for the country.”
Miliband also put in doubt the position of government advisor Lynton Crosby in the conclusion, stating his consultancy firm had worked with cigarette companies. A representative for David Cameron explained Crosby had no effect over the details of the Queen’s speech.
Campaign groups expressed their dissatisfaction regarding the inaction of the plan from the government’s programme. “The inability to bring forward legal guidelines greatly disrupts the Government’s reliability on public health challenges,” according to the Smokefree Action Coalition.
Companies like Philip Morris and British American Tobacco worry that plain packaging would promote the worldwide black market in tobacco.
Imperial Tobacco shares have increased partially since studies published in the British media declared that Cameron had dropped the initiative.