Canada
to make plain packaging for tobacco products compulsory
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[June 01, 2016]
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, following
the lead of Britain and Australia, will make plain packaging of
cigarettes compulsory in a bid to cut the rate of smoking, Health
Minister Jane Philpott said on Tuesday.
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Although Canada already obliges firms to slap large graphic warning
labels on cigarette packets, Philpott said more must be done, given
that some 5 million of Canada's 36 million inhabitants still use
tobacco products.
The measures would require a uniform, standardized color and font on
packages and restrict the use of logos and trademarks.
"I don't believe tobacco companies should be allowed to build brand
loyalty with children for a product that could kill them," Philpott
told reporters.
A final decision on what packaging rules to apply will be announced
after a three-month period of public consultations.
Earlier this month, a British court backed the government's plans
for mandatory plain packaging when it struck down a legal challenge
from tobacco companies.
In 2011, Australia became the first country to adopt plain packaging
legislation.
Major producers of tobacco sold in Canada include Japan Tobacco's
JTI-Macdonald unit, Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc, which is partly
owned by Philip Morris and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd, a unit of
British American Tobacco.
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"With products already hidden from view in stores and 75 percent of
the pack covered with health warnings, nobody starts smoking because
of the pack," said Eric Gagnon, a spokesman for Imperial Tobacco.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Alan Crosby)
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