Health Minister Edwin Poots has been called on to bring forward tobacco packaging legislation to bring the North into line with Britain and the South of Ireland.
The call comes from Derry Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson who has described the the British Government’s u-turn on its previous position not to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products as a “welcome development.”
Ms Anderson said with the Health Minister in Dublin “well advanced” in his preparations to legislate on this issue, it was imperative that Assembly Mr Poots brought forward similar legislation so that there would be “uniform regulations throughout these islands.”
She added: “The packet is one of the last marketing device in Europe left for the tobacco industry to exploit the opportunity to attract new young smokers of its products.
“With 94% of smokers taking up the deadly habit before the age of 25, it is essential that governments across the world ensure that this ‘silent salesman’ is restricted as much as possible.
“2,300 people – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces – will die in the next twelve months in the North of Ireland and over 7,000 across the island because of smoking related illnesses.
“There is not just a demand on legislators to do everything possible to eradicate this threat to public health, it is a responsibility.
“All EU members are signatories to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control which obliges governments to ensure that public health policies are protected from undue influence from tobacco industry lobbying.”
Ms Anderson concluded: “Edwin Poots must act without delay to ensure the North is compliant with both the spirit and letter of this obligation.”
