Australia will be the first country in the world to require plain, standardised packaging for all tobacco products from December 2012. Here is a look at which other countries around the world are considering introducing similar laws.
UNITED KINGDOM
On 16 April, 2012 Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, announced a UK-wide consultation on plain packaging for tobacco products. The consultation finished on August 10.
In 2003, EU regulations required two warnings to be displayed on each cigarette packet: one ('Smoking kills' or 'Smoking seriously harms you) covering at least 30 percent of the packet, and another one ('Smokers die younger', or 'Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes', or 'Smoking causes fatal lung cancer Smoking when pregnant harms your baby', etc.) covering at least 40 percent of the packet.
NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand government said on April 19, 2012 that it agrees in principle with introducing plain packaging of tobacco, subject to further consultation to be held later this year.
The final decision will hinge on talks with the public and industry and, if approved, plain packaging will start from July 2013.
Currently, by law, 30 per cent of the pack's front and 90 per cent of the pack's rear must consist of graphic warning messages.
EUROPEAN UNION
In 2010, the European Commission started a public consultation on a possible revision of Directive 2001/37/EC, which covers health warnings and limits on toxic constituents for tobacco products. The consultation included a proposal for plain packaging. The Commission is now deliberating on the response and is expected to make recommendations in late 2012.
Under current regulations, cigarette packets and other tobacco packaging must include warnings in the same size and format and using the same approved texts (in the appropriate local languages) in all member states of the European Union.
FINLAND
In May 2010, Finland's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health suggested that the EU should introduce plain packaging for tobacco packs. Under Finland's proposal, packs would be white with only the name of the product in black, the name of the manufacturer and health warnings.
Currently in Finland, warning signs are written in both Finnish and Swedish languages.
Finland's health minister has publicly stated that the goal is to eradicate tobacco completely from the entire country by 2040.
FRANCE
In December 2010, a UMP member of the French parliament tabled a member's Bill aimed at creating plain packaging. The bill did not pass.
Under current regulation, the sign 'Smoking kills' or 'Smoking seriously harms your health and that of others around you' needs to cover at least 30 percent of the front of the packet, with another warning at the back covering at least 40 percent of the packet.
BELGIUM
In 2011, the Belgian Health Minister, in response to a question in parliament, expressed support for plain packaging, including at European Union level.
TURKEY
In September 2011, Bloomberg reported that the Turkish government was working on plain packaging regulations. Under the proposal, all logos would disappear and cigarettes would come in black boxes, Istanbul-based newspaper Milliyet reported.
Currently in Turkey, written warnings must cover 30 percent of the front of the packet and 40 per cent of the back.
INDIA
In July 2012, the Indian government expressed interest in introducing plain packaging after a study made by Australian and Indian public health experts presented a report urging the Indian government to tackle the problem of a heavily-smoking young population.
Currently, all tobacco products are required to display graphic pictures, such as pictures of diseased lungs, and the text 'Smoking kills' or 'Tobacco Kills' in English, covering at least 40 percent of the front of the pack, and retailers must put the cigarette packs in such a way that the pictures on pack are clearly visible.
CANADA
The Canadian government has expressed interest in introducing plain packaging. In September 2011, Canada announced it would put graphic warnings on 75 percent of both front and back of packs by June 2012. Each warning must be accompanied by a picture illustrating it.
Warnings must be printed in English and French on all tobacco products.
