Moves to ban "seductive" cigarette packaging and replace it with
gruesome warnings mark a "bad day for big tobacco", Health Minister
James Reilly has insisted.
The Cabinet backed Dr Reilly’s bid to make Ireland the first country in the EU to pioneer such an anti-smoking initiative.
The move bans all branding, including trademarks, logos, colours and
graphics from packs. Only the name of the brand and type of produce in
uniform type face will be permitted on the packages as part of a drive
to end all smoking in Ireland by 2025.
“This is a good day for our children and a bad day for ‘Big Tobacco’.”
The minister said cigarette companies designed packs to “ensnare children, especially young girls”.
With 78% of smokers saying they became addicted before the age of 18, Dr
Reilly insisted the change in the law would cut the 5,200-a-year death
toll attributed to tobacco-related diseases every year.
Dr Reilly denied he was rushing through the initiative as he fears being
given the chop in next month’s Cabinet reshuffle after presiding over a
string of controversies.
“My future is in the hands of the Taoiseach.”
However, Dr Reilly admitted it would be a “bit of a while away” before
the ban on packaging is enacted as he expects strong legal challenges
from tobacco companies against the move.
Dr Reilly said the companies’ claims the change would not cut smoking
numbers were at odds with their determination to prevent it happening.
Dr Reilly said the move was mainly aimed at deterring children from taking up smoking.
“Given all we know about the dangers of smoking, it is not acceptable to
allow the tobacco industry to use deceptive marketing gimmicks to lure
our children into this deadly addiction and to deceive current smokers
about the impact of their addiction. The introduction of standardised
packaging will remove the final way for tobacco companies to promote
their deadly product in Ireland.
“Cigarette packets will no longer be a mobile advertisement for the tobacco industry.”
Australia was the first country to ban attractive packaging and will soon be followed by New Zealand.
Opponents of the move such as Forest Éireann’s John Mallon, said Dr Reilly was using the issue as distraction.
“There is no hard evidence that plain packaging will deter children from
smoking. There is, however, evidence from Australia that it will
increase illicit trade.
“If plain packaging is introduced, there is a serious risk Ireland could
be flooded with fake cigarettes which could be far more harmful to
consumers, including children,” Mr Mallon said.
The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 will be introduced in the Seanad before the end of the month.
