Smokers across Swindon are being warned about the new rules on cigarettes and tobacco that are set to come into force within a matter of weeks.
From May this year cigarettes and tobacco will no longer be sold in bright, glitzy packs, but in drab green packages with large graphic images, warning people about the health effects of smoking, on the front and back of them.
Health warnings will also appear at the top of all packs.
Although these laws came into effect in last May retailers were given a one-year transitional period to enable them to sell-through of all old stock.
The law changes are part of the EU Tobacco Products Directive which was brought into force on May 20th last year.
- Packs of 10 cigarettes will be banned
- Hand rolling tobacco will also only be sold in a minimum of 30 gram packets
- A combined picture and text health warning to cover 65 per cent of the packaging
- Misleading terms such as “light” “natural” and “organic” will be banned
Menthol cigarettes and tobacco products with appealing flavours such as fruit and chocolate are also set to be phased out with them being banned May 20th 2020.
