Directive negates need for plain packs

The U.K. smokers’ group Forest, which campaigned against revisions to the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive, has questioned the need for standardized packaging of tobacco after the European Parliament voted yesterday to adopt the revised directive.

The directive will force EU member states to increase the size of health warnings to cover 65 percent of the front and back of the pack.

“If health warnings are going to be even more prominent, dominating both sides of the pack, why on earth do we need plain packaging?” said Simon Clark, director of Forest, which ran the No Thank EU campaign.

“At the very least the government should wait and see what impact the larger warnings have before introducing standardized packs which are opposed by so many people.”

Clark attacked also other aspects of the directive.

“Banning menthol cigarettes and 10-packs is a serious attack on consumer choice that will do little to stop children smoking,” he said.

“The revised directive is typical of the nanny-state mentality that is prevalent not just in Brussels but also in Westminster.”