Recent moves to introduce plain (standardised) packaging of tobacco products could save lives by reducing demand for tobacco products, says the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat (WHO FCTC).

A statement issued by the WHO and copied to the Ghana News Agency to mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day, said plain packaging of tobacco products restricts or prohibits the use of logos, colours, brand images and promotional information on packaging other than brand and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style.

It recounted that in December 2012, Australia became the first country to fully implement plain packaging.

It said on May 20, France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland each began implementation of plain packaging.

It said Ireland is also preparing to introduce the measure, while other countries are exploring the option.

“Plain packaging reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products. It kills the glamour, which is appropriate for a product that kills people,” said WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.

“It restricts tobacco advertising and promotion. It limits misleading packaging and labelling. And it increases the effectiveness of health warnings,” she added.

The statement said plain packaging was recommended in WHO FCTC guidelines as part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that includes large graphic health warnings and comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

It said smoking in Australia has been steadily declining for years; adding that Australia introduced plain packaging, in conjunction with new and enlarged health warnings, in 2012.

It said between December 2012 and September 2015, there was an additional 0.55 percentage point fall in smoking prevalence among those aged 14 and above attributable to the packaging changes, according Australia’s post-implementation review.

It said this equates to more than 108,000 people quitting, not relapsing or not starting to smoke during that period.

Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, said Australia’s plain packaging results demonstrate the great potential of the measure.

“Plain packaging can reduce demand for tobacco products, as clearly seen in Australia. It offers a powerful tool to countries as part of a comprehensive approach to tackle the scourge of tobacco use,” said Dr Chestnov.

“The theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day – “Get ready for plain
packaging” – highlights this new trend in global efforts to control tobacco products, which kill almost six million people annually,” said Dr Douglas Bettcher, WHO’s Director for the Prevention of NCDs.

“Plain packaging is going global as more and more countries seek the important health gains it can bring to communities,” said Dr Bettcher.

“The tobacco industry has been getting ready for plain packaging for some time, conducting massive misinformation campaigns to block the measure.

"So it is encouraging to see more and more countries defy the industry’s tactics and implement plain packaging to reduce demand for tobacco products and put the health of their populations first,” he added.

The statement said to mark World No Tobacco Day, WHO is launching a new guide to plain packaging of tobacco products, which gives governments the latest evidence and guidance on implementing the measure.

“Most governments are committed to curbing the tobacco epidemic and reducing tobacco-related harm, such as deaths from cancers, heart and lung diseases,” said Dr Vera da Costa e Silva, Head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat.

“It is vital they have access to evidence-based, effective guidance that can support their efforts to protect the health of their populations,” she stated.
According to the WHO, tobacco-related illness is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced.

It said approximately one person dies from a tobacco-caused disease every six seconds, equivalent to almost six million people a year.

This is forecast to rise to more than eight million people by 2030, with more than 80 per cent of these preventable deaths occurring among people living in low-and middle-income countries.

Tobacco use is one of the largest preventable causes of NCDs.

Tobacco control represents a powerful tool in improving health in communities and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG target 3.4 is to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030, including cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, cancers and diabetes.

NCDs accounted for the deaths of 16 million people under the age of 70 in 2012 – 82 per cent of which occurred in developing countries.