It will be challenging for tobacco companies to comply with some of draft regulations released by Health Canada last week, especially given the short time provided for the changes, reports The Globe and Mail.
Health Canada has opened a 75-day consultation period for the public to comment on its proposed changes to cigarette packages, which aim to make them drab, unattractive and unappealing.
One provision calls for a return to the old-school “slide-and-shell” packs, which will require new machines.
The majority of cigarettes today are offered in flip-top packages.
Eric Gagnon, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada says his company might have to go to court if changes aren’t made.
Peter Luongo, managing director of Rothmans Benson & Hedges, said he’s meeting with officials from the Tobacco Control branch of Health Canada over concerns that this regulations “prohibit us from properly communicating the health differences between the products.”
Health organizations have described the proposal as “the best in the world.”
The consultations will run until Sept. 6, 2018.
Worst in the world
