Public Health Minister Jane Ellison confirmed Government backing for the introduction of standardized packaging of tobacco.

The Government intends to lay regulations for standardized packaging before the end of March this year, with the expectation that the regulations would come into force in May 2016.

The Public Health Minister also said that standardized packaging would bring the prospect of the UK's first smoke-free generation one step closer.

The proposed regulations, published in draft form as part of the last consultation, would standardize the packaging of all cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco for retail sale by:

• specifying mandatory colours for retail packaging (dull brown for the outside and white for the inside)
• permitting only specified text (such as the brand and variant name) and making sure any permitted text conforms to particular requirements
• allowing required markings such as health warnings and fiscal marks (including covert markings and any future requirements that may be introduced to tackle illicit trade) to remain in place.

For more information please see:

Department of Health's news story: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-standardised-packaging-of-tobacco

Hansard extract of the debate on standardized packaging in the House of Commons (see Public Health Minister’s speech at the end): https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-standardised-packaging-of-tobacco

Under the proposed regulations, this is how standardized cigarette packs would look in the UK (including new requirements set out in the European Tobacco Products Directive): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/323980/Image_of_standardised_pack_for_consultation.jpg

The report of the independent review into standardized packaging of tobacco, undertaken by Sir Cyril Chantler: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140911094224/http:/www.kcl.ac.uk/health/packaging-review.aspx