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New regulations will soon be coming into force that outlaw all branding on cigarette and loose tobacco packaging.
The Health & Social Care Committee has finalised regulations today that will make plain packaging mandatory.
The regulations will come into force on 31 July 2021. There will be a one-year ‘sell through’ period for cigarettes and loose tobacco, with a two-year period for other tobacco products such as cigars.
HSC President Deputy Al Brouard said the regulations had been staggered in order to "allow the tobacco industry time to implement the required changes to its products."
"The Tobacco Advertising and Related Activities (Guernsey) Regulations 2021 underline Guernsey’s commitment to, and responsibilities under, the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control," he said in a statement.
"As tobacco advertising and promotion is largely prohibited, packaging has become the main source of promotion for the industry and is targeted towards young people. Implementing plain packaging is therefore an important public health measure to see a reduction in the uptake of smoking in the years to come.”
The regulations align to those being proposed to the States Assembly in Jersey. "Product names will be presented in a standard font, size and colour and trademarks, logos, colour schemes and graphics will not be permitted by law," said HSC.
The Committee has attributed 16% of annual deaths in Guernsey and Alderney to smoking, which equates to around 86 people per year.
Pictured top: HSC President Deputy Al Brouard.
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