Scotland is planning on introducing plain packaging for tobacco products in efforts to meet an ambitious target to cut rates of smoking across the country
The Scottish government said it wanted a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034. It wanted to see less than 5% of the population choosing to smoke by the target date.
However, the Scottish government also stated that it would await the UK government and other devolved administrations’ responses to the UK wide consultation on standardised packaging before deciding on the most appropriate legislative option before introducing this initiative.
Its plans, contained in its new tobacco control strategy, are the latest in a series of measures to cut smoking.
The government action plan also includes more money for educational programmes to prevent young people from taking up smoking and a national marketing campaign on the danger of second-hand smoke.
‘Health benefits’
Public health minister Michael Matheson said: “We’ve already seen the huge health benefits that followed the ban on smoking in public places.
“This government is determined to build on this success, improving health and reducing health inequalities by reducing the number of people smoking.
“Our vision of a tobacco-free generation is about reaping the health, social and economic benefits that a significant reduction in smoking would bring – it would be an achievement of which we could all be proud.”
Ash chief executive Deborah Arnott said: “It’s excellent news that the Scottish government wants to introduce standard packaging for all tobacco products.
“Now it’s time for the UK government to follow Scotland’s lead and commit to legislation in the Queen’s speech in May. Australia has proved that introducing standardised packaging is easy to implement and causes no problems for retailers. There’s good evidence that standard packs are much less attractive particularly to children, which is why the public and the experts support this measure. It’s over six months since the consultation closed, what is the government waiting for?”
Plain packaging
Former packaging industry executive Mike Ridgway is spokesman for the UK packaging Industry group which is campaigning against plain packs. The group includes seven packaging producer.
He told PN: “Although the Scottish government’s position on smoking is well known they along with other proponents of the introduction of plain packaging cannot produce evidence that it is linked to smoking trends. Even in Australia where plain packaging became mandatory last year smoking levels remain consistent according to reports.
“The Scottish government records that additional investment is to be made in education particularly towards young people that will also highlight the dangers of smoking all of which is fully supported by the packaging industry.
“The position of the Scottish government is to await a decision by the UK government into the matter and then make any relevant decision no decision has yet been taken.”
Elsewhere, Ridgway said that he and packaging industry representatives from well-known companies including API, Payne, Parkside Flexibles and the Weidenhammer Group recently met with the Department of Health officials involved in assessing the outcome of the plain pack consultation.
He said: “We had a very fair hearing and thought the DoH more fully understood the role that packaging plays in combating the counterfeiter. DoH representatives had previously visited the site of a packaging producer to see the process at first hand.
“Officials saw the process at first hand and understood the complexity and sophistication of what is involved in the production of tobacco packaging products and the lengths that exist to ensure the products are difficult to reproduce by counterfeiters and suppliers to the illicit trade.
“They [DoH] stated that no decision had been made or was likely to be made in the immediate future. This is significant as various parties have been attempting to force a decision onto the government.”
