Standardised packaging of tobacco products encounter comprehensive defeat in court

Today, in the Royal Court of Justice in London, the tobacco industry’s challenge to the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products was overwhelmingly and comprehensively defeated.

The image is fully compliant with EU Tobacco Products Directive and UK Standardised Packaging Regulations. Source: ASH

From tomorrow, 20^th May, cigarettes made for sale in the UK will have to be sold in drab brown packaging with dramatic visual health warnings. The new packs are required under the Standardised Packaging Regulations, secondary legislation under the Children and Families Act 2014. There will be a one year transitional period to allow for the sell-through of old stock, so from May 2017 cigarettes and other tobacco products on sale in the UK must comply with the Regulations.

The new law comes into effect at the same time as the revised European Union Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). This will require larger health warnings on the front and back of packets and prohibit slim 'lipstick'-style cigarette packs.

The new standardised packaging regulations, which received overwhelming support from MPs are also backed by the public. YouGov data shows that 64% of adults in the West Midlands support requiring tobacco to be sold in plain standardised packaging with the product name in standard lettering which ASH believes will help protect the next generation of children and young people from starting to smoke.

Two thirds of current smokers started when they were children. Research shows that dull plain packs are less attractive to young people.

Dr Stephen Munday, Director of Public Health Solihull Council and Chair of the West Midlands Association of Directors of Public Health said:

Smoking causes death and disease and adversely impacts on thousands of families all over the country. Standardised packaging is supported by people across the West Midlands. It is a vital step towards ensuring a Smokefree future and is one of the best legacies we can leave to our children in creating a Smokefree generation.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH said:

This landmark judgement is a crushing defeat for the tobacco industry and fully justifies the Government’s determination to go ahead with the introduction of standardised packaging. Millions of pounds have been spent on some of the country’s most expensive lawyers in the hope of blocking the policy.  This disgraceful effort to privilege tobacco business interests over public health has rightly failed utterly.