UK: Draft Bill for TPD Implementation Released

Source from:  The Tobacco Journal 07/07/2015

The government published on its website draft regulations for implementation of the EU's revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD2).

The draft law suggests that UK regulations will follow TPD2 very closely, although some aspects remain unclear.

The draft regulations do not as yet include any provision for the prohibition of certain forms of e-cigarette advertising, as required by TPD2, or for the designated track and trace system to be implemented EU-wide by May 2019.

Further consultation will also be conducted regarding whether cross-border sales of tobacco products and e-cigarettes should be prohibited, according to the consultation document available on the government's website.

The document confirms that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be the competent authority for regulating e-cigarettes, as per TPD2 requirements, in the UK.

The 28 EU member states are required to adopt the EU directive into national law by 20 May 2016.

The government will continue to consult on the draft regulations until 3 September 2015. Enditem