Snuff Said About Plain Packaging

It has been well reported that the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill ("the Tobacco Bill") aims to tighten regulations around smoking and vaping. Specifically, the bill seeks to introduce plain packaging, which is standardised packaging devoid of branding, including logo trade marks.

In addition, the Bill initially sought to treat nicotine and non-nicotine electronic delivery systems in the same way as combustible tobacco products, which means that e-cigarettes or vapes would similarly be subject to the regulations proposing, inter alia, plain packaging and a ban on the public display of such goods.

Recently, during public consultation in relation to the Tobacco Bill, the proposed provisions of the new legislation, particularly those concerning the ban on advertising, were met with further resistance. Concerns raised included the rise in the illicit trade in counterfeit tobacco and nicotine products, due to the implementation of plain packaging, and the