UK: Department of Health Denies Sun Reports of U-turn on Plain Packaging for Tobacco

Source from:  The Grocer (uk)  05/08/2013

The Department of Health has denied reports the government is to scrap plans to force tobacco into plain packs.

This week, The Sun said PM David Cameron had ordered the proposed law to be pulled from next week's Queen's Speech amid fear the policy could cost the Exchequer £3bn in lost tax revenue and damage the packaging industry.

Reports suggest the government wants to focus its efforts on legislation around promoting growth, welfare reform and immigration.

However, a DH spokeswoman said a decision on plain packs had not yet been made. "We have received many thousands of responses to the tobacco packaging consultation," she said. "The government has an open mind on this issue and any decisions to take further action will come only after full consideration of the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information."

However, campaigners against the measure welcomed the reports.

"If it's true we welcome the news," said Simon Clark, director of smokers group Forest. "Plain packaging has nothing to do with health. There is no evidence it would make any difference to youth smoking rates but could do enormous harm to small businesses.

"We're pleased the prime minister has apparently recognised this and listened to the hundreds of thousands of people who expressed their opposition to standardised packaging in the government consultation." Enditem