U.K. Threatens Plain Packaging for Cigars
The U.K. proposes extending plain packaging rules to cigars, vapes, and rolling papers.Summary
The U.K.'s Tobacco and Vapes Bill, passed earlier this year, has led to a new proposal from the Department of Health and Social Care to extend plain packaging requirements to products beyond cigarettes, specifically including rolling papers, vapes, and cigars. This proposal is currently in a consultation phase ending on Oct. 2, and the U.K. cigar industry has launched advocacy efforts in response. Plain packaging mandates standardized, unbranded packaging to discourage consumption, a measure already in place for cigarettes and implemented in about 10 countries for handmade cigars. The industry warns that this regulation will increase costs for distributors, reduce sales for retailers, and potentially raise the risk of counterfeit products.
(Source：halfwheel)
