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| Standardised plain cigarette packaging plans shelved | Standardised plain cigarette packaging plans shelved |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The government is to postpone its plans to introduce standardised plain packaging for cigarettes in the UK. | The government is to postpone its plans to introduce standardised plain packaging for cigarettes in the UK. |
| Ministers are expected to tell MPs that a decision on the policy has been formally delayed so that more time can be spent examining how similar plans have worked in Australia. | Ministers are expected to tell MPs that a decision on the policy has been formally delayed so that more time can be spent examining how similar plans have worked in Australia. |
| The aim of such packaging is to discourage young people from smoking by making the packets less attractive. | The aim of such packaging is to discourage young people from smoking by making the packets less attractive. |
| Health campaigners said they were bitterly disappointed with the move. | |
| The packets would all be the same colour, with the same font and carry a prominent graphic warning. | The packets would all be the same colour, with the same font and carry a prominent graphic warning. |
| Ministers were keen to go ahead with the proposal after the Department of Health held a consultation last year. | Ministers were keen to go ahead with the proposal after the Department of Health held a consultation last year. |
| But Downing Street was said to be worried about the impact on jobs. | But Downing Street was said to be worried about the impact on jobs. |
| 'Important decision' | 'Important decision' |
| The BBC has been told that the government will postpone any decision so it can study what has happened in Australia. | The BBC has been told that the government will postpone any decision so it can study what has happened in Australia. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "This is an important decision and we make no apology for taking time to get it right." | A Department of Health spokesman said: "This is an important decision and we make no apology for taking time to get it right." |
| Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said the decision would cost lives, and urged the government to rethink its policy. | Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said the decision would cost lives, and urged the government to rethink its policy. |
| The UK-wide consultation came to an end in August. | The UK-wide consultation came to an end in August. |
| It was extended by a month to allow more people to respond after strong public interest in the issue. | It was extended by a month to allow more people to respond after strong public interest in the issue. |
| Plain packaging is seen by campaigners as the next step in discouraging young people from taking up smoking. | Plain packaging is seen by campaigners as the next step in discouraging young people from taking up smoking. |
| Launching the consultation, the then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he wanted tobacco companies to have "no business" in the UK. | Launching the consultation, the then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he wanted tobacco companies to have "no business" in the UK. |
| Pro-smokers' group Forest said it was "delighted" with the decision. | |
| Angela Harbutt, from Forest's Hands Off Our Packs campaign, said: "The government conducted a public consultation on plain packaging in 2012 and half a million people opposed the measure. | |
| "Ministers have listened to ordinary people. This is good news for those who believe in consumer freedom and are opposed to excessive regulation." |