Guernsey’s Committee for Health & Social Care has put in place regulations to bring in plain packaging for tobacco products from 31st July 2021, bringing the Channel Islands in line with the UK.
From 31st July 2022 onwards there will be no branding on cigarette and loose tobacco packaging in Guernsey after the Committee for Health & Social Care made regulations today to implement plain packaging.
The regulations align to those being proposed to the States Assembly in Jersey as we work in tandem. The Regulations, if approved, mean that tobacco products being sold across the Channel Islands will all look the same. Product names will be presented in a standard font, size and colour and trademarks, logos, colour schemes and graphics will not be permitted by law.
16% of deaths in Guernsey and Alderney are attributable to smoking
Deputy Brouard, President of the Committee for Health & Social Care said “The Committee for Health & Social Care has today made the Tobacco Advertising and Related Activities (Guernsey) Regulations 2021, underlining Guernsey’s commitment to, and responsibilities under, the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
As tobacco advertising and promotion is largely prohibited, packaging has become the main source of promotion for the industry and is targeted towards young people. Implementing plain packaging is therefore an important public health measure to see a reduction in the uptake of smoking in the years to come.”
Whilst the regulations will come into force on 31st July 2021, there will be a one-year ‘sell through’ period for cigarettes and loose tobacco, with a two-year period for other tobacco products (cigars and cigarillos). This will allow the tobacco industry time to implement the required changes to its products and allow the sale of existing stock.
The Guernsey and Alderney Wellbeing Survey reports that the 13% of islanders who regularly smoke are more likely to report their health as fair, bad or very bad compared with those who have never smoked. 16% of deaths in Guernsey and Alderney are attributable to smoking, which equates to approximately 86 people dying every year.
Stopping smoking is the single most positive action that can be made to improve health and Guernsey’s free stop smoking service, Quitline, is available to support anyone who would like to give up smoking.
Quitline can be contacted…
- Telephone: 01481 233170
- Email: quitline@gov.gg
- Website
