Press Releases
Government briefs tobacco trade on proposal to amend health warnings on tobacco product packets and retail containers
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the Tobacco Control
Office of the Department of Health today (November 23) held
a briefing for the tobacco trade to further explain the
Government's proposal to amend health warnings on packets
and retail containers of tobacco products as well as
technical issues related to implementation of the proposal.
The Government's proposed amendments are as follows:
The area of the graphic health warning shall be of a size
that covers at least 85% of the two largest surfaces of the
packet or the retail container;
Increase the number of forms of health warning from six to
12;
Incorporate the following health warning messages together
with the existing "HKSAR GOVERNMENT WARNING"-"QUIT SMOKING
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS" and "QUITLINE: 1833 183" .
The Government plans to provide the trade with a six-month
adaptation period from the date of the publication of the
amendment proposal on the Gazette.
A spokesman for the FHB said, "Having studied overseas
experience and considering the recommendations of the World
Health Organization (WHO), the Government proposes to amend
the prescribed forms (including specifications) of health
warnings, the size and number of health warnings and
messages on packet or retail container of cigarettes and
tobacco products under the Smoking (Public Health) (Notices)
Order, with a view to maintaining the salience and enhancing
the impact of health warnings and messages.
"Overseas experience suggests that the increase in the size
of health warning on packet or retail container of
cigarettes and tobacco products helps reduce smoking
prevalence, remind the public of the risk of smoking, as
well as increase attempts to quit. Some countries have also
banned display of tobacco products at point-of-sale.
"In fact, the WHO has urged its members to prepare for
adopting plain packaging (standardised packaging) for
tobacco products. Expanding the size of health warnings and
messages is the international trend."
The major views expressed by the representatives of the
tobacco trade who participated in the briefing include the
six-month adaptation period was inadequate; the requirement
of indication of tar and nicotine yields should be removed;
the graphic files of the health warning forms should be
provided as early as possible to facilitate the trade's
preparation and ensure technical feasibility of the
proposal, etc.
During the briefing, the Government representatives
responded in detail to questions on implementation of the
proposal at the briefing and noted the trade's views
concerning the adaptation period and other technical issues.
The Government would consider how best to facilitate the
trade in preparing for the amendment proposal. The
Government would report in details to the Panel on Health
Services of the Legislative Council in December regarding
the details of the proposal and the views collected. The
Government plans to submit the amendment order to the
Legislative Council in the first quarter of next year.
Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 23:51
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