Ireland to follow Australia’s lead

Ireland looks set to implement standardized packaging for tobacco products following approval by the Cabinet of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014, according to a story in the Irish Examiner.

If enacted, the new law will ban from packs logos and trademarks, along with brand colors, designs and graphics. Product names will be included but in a uniform typeface on a plain background, and packs will be dominated by graphic health warnings.

According to the Examiner story, the Department of Health said the objective was to make packs look less attractive, to make health warnings more prominent and to reduce the risk that people, especially children, would be misled about the harmful effects of smoking.

“The introduction of standardized packaging will remove the final way for tobacco companies to promote their deadly product in Ireland,” said Health Minister James Reilly. “Cigarette packets will no longer be a mobile advertisement for the tobacco industry.”