Smoking
causes an estimated 700,000 premature deaths each year and it is hoped the new
rules will reduce the number of smokers across the EU by 2.4 million.
The changes
include a ban on menthol cigarettes from 2020 and promotional statements such
as "this product is free of additives" or "is less harmful than
other brands".
Companies
have a year to sell old stock and fully implement the changes under the
directive.
Cigarettes are being sold
in the UK in standardised green packaging with explicit images from today,
under new rules designed to cut the number of smokers.
It comes after the world's
four largest tobacco firms lost a legal challenge against the Government's new
plain packaging rules at the High Court on Thursday.
Pictures showing the
harmful effects of smoking must now cover 65% of the front and back of every
packet of cigarettes, with extra warnings on the top of the pack.
Packs containing 10
cigarettes will be prohibited under the ruling because the boxes are viewed too
small to contain suitable health warnings.
Packaging of hand-rolled
tobacco must also be in the same green colour and contain a minimum of 30g of
tobacco.
people won't give up smoking regardless of packaging
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