Policy responses and statements

Name of organisation:

Department of Health

Name of policy document:

The introduction of picture warnings on tobacco packs - a consultation

Deadline for response:

25 August 2006

Background: The purpose of this consultation is to share the Department of Health's plans for introducing picture warnings with stakeholders and to invite views on both the direction of travel and the details of the plans. Questions where the Department particularly sought feedback are highlighted throughout, although comments on any aspects of this consultation paper were invited.

Picture warnings will apply to all of the UK. This consultation document therefore applies to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

COMMENTS ON
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
THE INTRODUCTION OF PICTURE WARNINGS ON TOBACCO PACKS

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is pleased to respond to this important consultation on adding picture warnings to tobacco packs.  The College supports strongly all initiatives to discourage the take up of smoking and to support smoking cessation.

The College works closely with ASH Scotland in a coalition in Scotland to encourage Scots to quit, and commends the detailed summary of the evidence provided by ASH Scotland in their own response to this consultation.

The College has the following comments to make in response to the specific questions within the consultation:

• The evidence from other countries (especially from Canada) demonstrates that bolder and bigger picture warnings are more effective, particularly when combined with written warnings.

• The College is concerned that the EU Directives restrict the positioning of the picture warnings and recognises that warnings on the fronts of packages would be more effective than the planned reverse side (see ASH Scotland response for the evidence).

• Choice of pictures: although a small sample there was completed consensus for numbers 5, 24 and 34, with agreement on numbers 2, 8, 11, 15, 17, 21, 26, 29, 38 and 41.  However, it seems likely that effective images will differ with target groups and the Department of Health should undertake research in the UK with smokers of all ages and non-smokers in groups vulnerable to starting before determining the final selection.

• The College supports the rotation of images and proposals to refresh the options in response to measured impact and/or research with target groups.

• The College recommends that picture warnings are applied to all tobacco products.

• The time-scales for introduction of the new warnings on cigarette packets seems reasonable, but should be extended to all tobacco products to avoid confusion or dilution of the messages.

• The College supports Option Two (full implementation) but asks that the government seeks changes to the EU directives that restrict the positioning, selection and sizes of picture warnings to allow front of packet warnings in the future.

• The College is concerned that such warnings may not appear on contraband products which could result in a significant number of UK smokers missing the messages.  However, this will make contraband products more obvious and may support enforcement.

• The College encourages continued and improved investment in smoking cessation services to support the additional warning messages.

Copies of this response are available from:

Lesley Lockhart,
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
9 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JQ.

Tel: 0131 225 7324    ext 608
Fax: 0131 220 3939

[24 August 2006]