Medical experts call for action on plain cigarette packaging
A group of 600 medical professionals have signed a letter calling on the government to end its prevarication over the introduction of plain cigarette packaging and implement the measure without delay.
The government has been accused of dragging its heels over the introduction of the new rules since publicly backing the move in April as a means of dissuading young people from picking up the habit.
In a letter published in the British Medical Journal the group of doctors, nurses and NHS staff complained of inaction since then and called on ministers to bring forward legislation in advance of the upcoming general election.
Ministers have committed to a six-week consultation on the implementation of draft regulations but will then need to notify the EU of its intent – a process which could take up to six months.
In their letter the group write: “Smoking related disease remains the main cause of preventable deaths in the UK, killing more than 100 000 people each year. It is therefore necessary and logical to end the marketing of cigarettes and tobacco products through packaging.
“We therefore ask you to confirm that they will be published in the next few weeks."
For their part the Department of Health insist the consultation will be published ‘shortly’.