On May 31, tobacco control advocates all over the world will join efforts to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. The Theme for this year’s campaign is ‘ Get ready for Plain Packaging’, otherwise known as ‘standardized packaging.’ http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2016/brochure/en/
According to WHO, Plain packaging refers to “measures to restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style.
Plain packaging is an important demand reduction measure that reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings. It builds upon other measures as part of a comprehensive multisectoral approach to tobacco control. Policy-makers, civil society and the public can take action to ensure that their governments consider adoption of plain packaging.
Some of the key attributes of plain packaging include: Reducing attractiveness of tobacco products; Eliminating tobacco advertising and promotion; Limiting deceptive tobacco packaging and Increasing effectiveness of tobacco health warnings.
Examples of Plain packaging based on Australia’s model
