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Government urged to act quickly on plain cigarette packaging Government urged to act quickly on plain cigarette packaging
(about 17 hours later)
The government has been urged not to drag its feet over the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes in a letter from 600 clinicians, including many leaders in public health.The government has been urged not to drag its feet over the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes in a letter from 600 clinicians, including many leaders in public health.
Public health minister Jane Ellison told parliament in April that she would bring forward draft regulations by the end of April. She was responding to a review by Sir Cyril Chantler into the health benefits of plain packs which, she said, made "a compelling case that if standardised packaging were introduced, it would be very likely to have a positive impact on public health".Public health minister Jane Ellison told parliament in April that she would bring forward draft regulations by the end of April. She was responding to a review by Sir Cyril Chantler into the health benefits of plain packs which, she said, made "a compelling case that if standardised packaging were introduced, it would be very likely to have a positive impact on public health".
The Chantler report said the evidence showed that packs without branding or advertising would attract fewer young people to try smoking, although the effect would be "modest".The Chantler report said the evidence showed that packs without branding or advertising would attract fewer young people to try smoking, although the effect would be "modest".
But, say the experts whose letter is published in the British Medical Journal, that was two months ago and nothing has happened. There is a relatively short window of opportunity before the next general election, they warn. The government has committed to a six-week consultation period and will need to notify the EU of the draft regulations – a process which can take up to six months. "We therefore ask you to confirm that they will be published in the next few weeks."But, say the experts whose letter is published in the British Medical Journal, that was two months ago and nothing has happened. There is a relatively short window of opportunity before the next general election, they warn. The government has committed to a six-week consultation period and will need to notify the EU of the draft regulations – a process which can take up to six months. "We therefore ask you to confirm that they will be published in the next few weeks."
The letter is signed by 600 doctors, nurses and other NHS health professionals. Among them are Dr Nicholas Hopkins, consultant chest physician and chair of a specialist lung disease advisory group of the British Thoracic Society, Anna Gilmore, professor of public health in Bath and John Ashton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health. The letter is signed by 600 doctors, nurses and other NHS health professionals. Among them are Dr Nicholas Hopkinson, consultant chest physician and chair of a specialist lung disease advisory group of the British Thoracic Society, Anna Gilmore, professor of public health in Bath and John Ashton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health.
"Smoking related disease remains the main cause of preventable deaths in the UK, killing more than 100 000 people each year. t is therefore necessary and logical to end the marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products through packaging," they write."Smoking related disease remains the main cause of preventable deaths in the UK, killing more than 100 000 people each year. t is therefore necessary and logical to end the marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products through packaging," they write.
There has already been a public consultation on plain packaging - which is taken to mean packs without brand advertising but covered instead with health warnings. It ran from April to August 2012. There were high hopes among anti-smoking campaigners that the government would introduce plain packaging, but in July 2013 it announced that it would wait for evidence from Australia, which introduced it in the previous year. The Chantler review assessed that evidence.There has already been a public consultation on plain packaging - which is taken to mean packs without brand advertising but covered instead with health warnings. It ran from April to August 2012. There were high hopes among anti-smoking campaigners that the government would introduce plain packaging, but in July 2013 it announced that it would wait for evidence from Australia, which introduced it in the previous year. The Chantler review assessed that evidence.
Labour's shadow public health minister, Luciana Berger, said there was no excuse for further delay. The letter, she said,"is an extraordinary step for hundreds of concerned health professionals to take.Labour's shadow public health minister, Luciana Berger, said there was no excuse for further delay. The letter, she said,"is an extraordinary step for hundreds of concerned health professionals to take.
"Even when MPs demanded answers in the Commons on Tuesday, the Minister, Jane Ellison, wouldn't set a timetable. It is becoming yet another example of David Cameron caving in to vested interests and standing up for the wrong people."​"Even when MPs demanded answers in the Commons on Tuesday, the Minister, Jane Ellison, wouldn't set a timetable. It is becoming yet another example of David Cameron caving in to vested interests and standing up for the wrong people."​
The Department of Health said the process was on track. "We are minded to introduce regulations for standardised packaging of tobacco products subject to a final, short consultation so interested parties can give us their thoughts on the detailed proposal," it said in a statement.The Department of Health said the process was on track. "We are minded to introduce regulations for standardised packaging of tobacco products subject to a final, short consultation so interested parties can give us their thoughts on the detailed proposal," it said in a statement.
"The consultation is now being finalised and will be published shortly.""The consultation is now being finalised and will be published shortly."
• This article was amended on 11 June 2014 to correct the name of Dr Nicholas Hopkinson, from Hopkins as an earlier version said.