Call for 'graphic' cigarette packs

Anti-smoking campaigners are calling for pictures of the health effects of smoking to be emblazoned across 80 per cent of cigarette packs in future.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st May 2010, 22:53 BST
Updated 31st May 2010, 22:54 BST

They used yesterday's World No Tobacco Day to mount a new offensive at the European Parliament in Brussels, warning against the seductive promotion of cigarettes – including the packaging itself.

Instead they want graphic depictions of diseased organs to accompany prominent written warnings that smoking kills.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The call came after last week's pledge from the EU's new Consumer Health Commissioner John Dalli of legislation soon to tighten up existing anti-smoking rules.

He said yesterday: "World No Tobacco Day is a good opportunity to remind Europeans what tobacco consumption means for their health and lives.

"It means sickness, suffering and premature death. I believe the time has come to strengthen our efforts to fight tobacco and its health consequences. With this in mind, the commission will soon launch a public consultation on the possible revision of the Tobacco Products Directive".

Earlier the Smoke Free Partnership told a conference in the European Parliament that it wants compulsory picture warnings – showing diseased organs – and standardised packaging of cigarettes across the EU.

Its director Florence Berteletti said: "The tobacco industry uses multi-million dollar promotional campaigns, including carefully crafted package designs, to trap new users."