One of four images will occupy half the space on both sides of the pack. A third of the remaining space will display written warnings. "This policy has been proven effective in countries that have applied this measure," said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the tobacco control committee at the Ministry of Health. "Young smokers will seriously start to think about the dangers of smoking and either stop or cut down the number of cigarettes they are smoking." The graphics will also prevent tobacco companies from using packaging to advertise their product, Dr Al Maidoor said.
"With their packaging, they are fooling the customer into thinking [smoking] is something that is cool and nice - that it is a part of your life," she said. "Now this will be taken very seriously. The graphic cannot be removed or peeled off - it's part of the packaging." According to Dr Al Maidoor, the UAE is the first country in the GCC to introduce this policy. However the process was not easy, she said. "Tobacco companies were very resistant, and they are still resistant in the other GCC countries," she said.
"They are giving the message that no matter what you do, people will still smoke. But that is not true and we've seen how these policies can work." Future plans include having completely plain packaging - where nothing but the graphic image will be in colour and the brand name will be significantly smaller. "The human brain is more attracted to the colour than the pictures, but by having plain packaging more focus will be placed on the image," she said.
The Ministry of Health is still in talks with the Ministry of Finance to increase the taxation on cigarettes, a move that was first announced in 2010. "The Ministry of Finance said they need more time," Dr Al Maidoor said. "First they want to control smuggling and then raise the tax. They're approaching it step by step." The lobbying of tobacco companies remains a major challenge, she added, but said officials are determined to make the new system work.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий