First JTI campaign around "plain" cigarette packs questions the process used in Department of Health consultation
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has launched a campaign sharing its views on the potential consequences of enforcing standardised cigarette packs in the UK.
The adverts, which question the process used in the UK Department of Health consultation, will feature in UK wide publications from this weekend targeting government and business decision makers underlining 'misconceived and outdated notions' surrounding smoking.
Martin Southgate, managing director UK for JTI states they are “seriously concerned about the way the consultation had been managed from the start”, he added: “There is a debate shaping up around standardised packaging and we are an important part of it.”
The campaigns focus will be on the consequences standardised packs will create on from both a consumer and business perspective. JTI aims to highlight the lack of evidence supporting the Department of Health’s consultation on plain packaging, which ignores the Government’s own Better Regulation rules.
Investing £2 million in this initiative over the coming months, JTI want a genuine and transparent process which pays attention to the consequences of standardised packaging, notably on illicit trade. Southgate continued: “I fail to see how making illicit trade easier can be seen as progress on reducing smoking.
“If we succeed in propelling intelligent arguments to the surface – from us or others – we will all benefit from it. Hopefully the Department of Health will re-think its approach and common sense will prevail.”