Unit packaging

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The so-called unit packaging , neutral packaging or standardized packaging , in English plain packaging , denotes a further level of containment of tobacco marketing within the framework of anti-smoking laws , the standardization of tobacco product packaging.

Specific brand elements such as logos or lettering are not used; The font, font size and package base will be standardized.

This would significantly reduce the attractiveness of the individual boxes, undermine the suggestive effect of the choice of color and design and create more space for conveying health-related knowledge. It can also be assumed that warnings would then be better perceived.

Unit packaging also limits the use of tobacco packaging as a promotional item , would reduce misleading labeling and would therefore be an important means of reducing demand .

On the occasion of World Non smoking day on May 31, 2016 called World Health Organization and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ( WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ) on countries to prepare for the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products.

The spokeswoman for the European Commission said that unitary packaging is not an economic burden on the European economy, as possible losses in the tobacco industry or lower tax revenues can be offset against the costs of treating tobacco-related diseases.

effect

Single packs with shock pictures discourage children and adolescents from starting to smoke. Studies, especially from Australia, confirm this .

development

The standard packaging is already in force in eight countries, decided in 14 countries (as of 2019) and in several other countries under discussion.

Unit packaging in the world:
  • Unit packaging
  • Standard packaging planned
  • Australia

    The Australian government has already dared to take this rigorous step. Since the end of 2012, manufacturers in Australia have only been allowed to sell olive-green standard packaging - printed with the already usual shock photos and warning notices. It is following a recommendation from the WHO.

    Belgium

    From January 1, 2021, Belgium is only to allow single packaging in stores.

    France

    France (including overseas departments ) has only allowed uniform packaging in retail since January 1, 2017. As in Australia, the new packs are in a pale brownish green shade (Pantone 448 C).

    France is thus to Australia the second country, and also the first in the European Union , the trademarks on cigarette packs bans. The commitment to neutral packs was part of a controversial health reform by Health Minister Marisol Touraine .

    Ireland

    Since September 30, 2018, Ireland has only allowed unit packaging in stores.

    Canada

    Since February 7, 2020, tobacco products in Canada can only be sold in unit packaging . 80 percent of the packaging surface is covered with warning labels, the brand and type are indicated in white, neutral letters on the remaining 20 percent. The one-size-fits-all (25 cigarettes per pack) should also be introduced by 2021.

    New Zealand

    In New Zealand , since June 6, 2018, only single packs can be sold.

    Netherlands

    In the Netherlands , from October 1, 2020, only unitary packaging will be produced.

    Norway

    In Norway , since July 1, 2017, only single packaging has been allowed to be produced, and has been sold since July 1, 2018.

    Switzerland

    By National Pierre-Alain Fridez ( SP filed) on September 26, 2014 Motion 14.3993 to standardize the presentation of packets of cigarettes has been prepared by the National Council on 29 September 2016 - after the Federal Council requested the rejection on 5 December 2014 - with 53 to 139 votes rejected with one abstention.

    Slovenia

    From 2020, Slovenia will only allow single packaging in retail.

    Turkey

    The Turkey can since 5 January 2020 only plain packaging on the market. The government has been fighting tobacco for years, fueled mainly by the dislike of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan . It is known that he is so opposed to cigarette smoking that he sometimes rebukes passers-by smoking who cross his path.

    Hungary

    Hungary initially announced that from May 20, 2019, only single packaging will be allowed in stores. The deadline has now been postponed to January 1, 2022.

    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom can since May 21, 2017 just plain packaging on the market.

    Standard packaging and EU law

    As part of the revision of the European Tobacco Product Directive 2001/37 / EC, the German Cancer Research Center recommends the implementation of an EU-wide standardization of packaging. This means the standardization of the design of all tobacco product brands. On April 3, 2014, the new Directive 2014/40 / EU was passed by the European Commission. This stipulates that cigarette packaging and other packaging for tobacco products must now be labeled with a warning that takes up 65% of the entire pack. However, it leaves the member states free to go beyond this requirement and introduce plain packaging . France , Hungary , Great Britain and Ireland have so far made use of this discretion . Then has Philip Morris sued and a British court referred the dispute to the Court for decision.

    Directive 2014/40 / EU is implemented in Germany by the Tobacco Products Act.

    Despite various concerns about whether the measure is too paternalistic and violates fundamental rights, legal scholars consider the introduction of plain packaging in the EU to be constitutional with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the German Basic Law.

    Standard packaging and World Trade Organization (WTO)

    According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the sale of cigarettes exclusively in standard packaging  does not violate international trade rules. WTO arbitrators came to this conclusion in 2018. Four countries ( IndonesiaHonduras , the  Dominican Republic  and  Cuba ) had sued Australia, which in 2012 became the first country in the world to introduce such packaging to fight against smoking.

    See also

    Individual evidence

    1. a b German Cancer Research Center (Ed.): Improvement of youth and consumer protection through the revision of the European Tobacco Product Directive 2001/37 / EC (PDF; 2.3 MB), Heidelberg 2010.
    2. Reuters: Australia's plain cigarette packs get more support than expected .
    3. WHO: World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2016: Get ready for plain packaging .
    4. Sarantis Michalopoulos: EU Commission: Uniform packaging for cigarettes does not harm the economy. In: euractiv.com. August 30, 2017, accessed on September 12, 2019 (German).
    5. Norway makes the cigarettes brown. In: The time . July 1, 2017, accessed June 15, 2020.
    6. World Health Organization (Ed.): Tobacco Plain Packaging . 2018, accessed July 18, 2019.
    7. How beneficial are shock photos for smokers? . Frankfurter Rundschau from October 8, 2013.
    8. Guillaume Barkhuysen: Grand change en vue pour les fumeurs: Maggie De Block annonce que le paquet neutre arrivera le 1st janvier 2020! . In: sudinfo.be, February 12, 2019, accessed on July 18, 2019.
    9. Blick: Health: Standard packaging for cigarettes in Great Britain and France .
    10. The Standard: France bans brand logos on cigarette packets .
    11. Irish Times: Plain packaging for cigarettes to begin in September .
    12. Canada introduces plain packaging. Swiss Tobacco Prevention Working Group, May 2, 2019, accessed on November 12, 2019 .
    13. ^ New Zealand Ministry of Health: plain-packaging Tobacco standardized packaging
    14. Dutch get tough on tobacco, bring in plain packaging next year
    15. ^ Tobacco industry also pulling strings within the EU
    16. Regjeringen.no: Reklamefrie tobakkspakninger from July 1, 2017
    17. ^ Business and voting of the motion 14.3993. In: parlament.ch . Retrieved December 25, 2018.
    18. Reuters: Slovenia passes law enforcing plain tobacco packaging from 2020
    19. ^ Turkey moves to plain packaging for tobacco products
    20. ↑ Standard packaging for cigarettes introduced in Turkey
    21. ^ World Health Organization (WHO): Hungary: Larger pictorial warnings and plain packaging required by the new Government Decree
    22. https://www.magyaridok.hu/gazdasag/kesobb-jon-az-egyseges-csomagolas-3770600/
    23. EUR-Lex: Directive 2014/40 / EU .
    24. Hungary: Warehouse pictorial warnings and plain packaging required by the new Government Decree .
    25. ↑ Standard packaging for cigarettes in Great Britain and France .
    26. ^ Tobacco giants win right to challenge EU Bill .
    27. Shmatenko, Standard packaging for tobacco products and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, ZfRV 2014, 4 .
    28. ^ The constitutionality of plain packaging for cigarettes, by Wiss. With. Dipl.-Jur. Leonid Shmatenko .
    29. WTO: Regulations on uniform cigarette packets are legal