This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23281804

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Plain cigarette packaging plans on hold Labour attack Tories over plain cigarette 'U-turn'
(35 minutes later)
The government is to postpone its plans to introduce standardised plain packaging for cigarettes in the UK. Labour has accused David Cameron of caving in to the tobacco industry lobby after plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging are put on hold.
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 a decision has been 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. Downing Street is said to be worried about the impact on jobs.
Cancer Research UK said the government had chosen tobacco profits over health. But Labour want an explanation about the "broken promise" and the input of Tory election strategist Lynton Crosby.
The packets would all be the same colour, with the same font and carry a prominent graphic warning. And Cancer Research UK said the government had chosen tobacco profits over health.
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, designed to discourage young people from smoking by making the packets less attractive, after the Department of Health held a consultation last year.
But Downing Street was said to be worried about the impact on jobs. Under the plans, the standardised packets would all be the same colour, with the same font and carry a prominent graphic warning.
'Important decision''Important decision'
The BBC has been told the government will postpone any decision so it can study what has happened in Australia, where cigarettes must be sold in olive green packets with no logos, carrying graphic images warning of the consequences of smoking. But the BBC has been told the government will postpone any decision so it can study what has happened in Australia, which was the first country in the world to introduce such packaging in December 2012.
Australia was the first country in the world to introduce such packaging when it did so in December 2012.
The only concession in Australia to the tobacco companies is their name and the name of the brand variant in small print at the bottom of the box.
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."
But Labour have asked ministers to come to Parliament on Friday to explain the reasons for the decision.
"The Tories used to say there were in favour of this policy, that children should be protected," shadow health minister Dianne Abbott said.
"People will rightly wonder if the government is breaking its promise, despite the medical evidence and the wishes of British families, in order to please its friends in big business."
Labour want to know if Mr Crosby, an Australian political strategist who is running the party's election campaign had any influence over the decision - something the Conservatives have denied.
Mr Crosby's lobbying firm Crosby Textor was employed by British American Tobacco to campaign against plain packaging in Australia.
"David Cameron needs to explain why he's doing it, when he decided, whether Lynton Crosby had any input into the decision, and whether he was aware of Lynton Crosby's alleged business interests when he appointed him," Ms Abbott added.
'Wrong choice'
Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said the decision would cost lives.Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said the decision would cost lives.
He said 200,000 children were "lured" into starting smoking in the UK every year "The government had a choice: protect children from an addiction that kills 100,000 people in the UK every year or protect tobacco industry profits," he said. "We believe it has made the wrong choice."
"The government had a choice: protect children from an addiction that kills 100,000 people in the UK every year or protect tobacco industry profits," he added.
"We believe it has made the wrong choice."
But pro-smokers' group Forest said it was "delighted" with the decision.But 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.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.""Ministers have listened to ordinary people. This is good news for those who believe in consumer freedom and are opposed to excessive regulation."
A UK-wide consultation came to an end in August. Plain packaging is seen by campaigners as the next step in discouraging young people from taking up smoking. Launching the consultation last year, the then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he wanted tobacco companies to have "no business" in the UK.
It was extended by a month to allow more people to respond after strong public interest in the issue. In Australia, cigarettes must be sold in olive green packets with no logos, carrying graphic images warning of the consequences of smoking.
Plain packaging is seen by campaigners as the next step in discouraging young people from taking up smoking. The only concession in Australia to the tobacco companies is their name and the name of the brand variant in small print at the bottom of the box.
Launching the consultation, the then Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he wanted tobacco companies to have "no business" in the UK.