CANADA

Prior discussions on plain packaging

In Canada, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health was asked to address the issue of plain packaging on which it held a series of hearings from April to June 1994. The Report of the Standing Committee was generally in favour of plain packaging though it acknowledged concerns about international trade and legal implications, contraband, and inconclusive evidence that plain packaging will reduce tobacco consumption. The Canadian Government was cautious about endorsing the idea of plain packaging. It opted instead to wait for the outcome of a Expert Panel study on the possible impact of packaging on tobacco consumption and to investigate related legal, trade and law enforcement issues.

Expert Panel assessment

The Expert Panel built its work around a national survey of teens and reported its findings in March 1995. The findings of the Expert Panel were unclear, noting that the impact of plain packaging would vary across the population and the extent of change in smoking incidence was impossible to assess. (See: "Canada Expert Panel Report - When Packages Can't Speak March 1995 - excerpt") At the same time, the Canadian Government was concerned about the implication of plain packaging with regards to intellectual property law. In a discussion of a tobacco control bill on 6 December 1996 in the Standing Committee on Health, the Department of Health was asked if it would introduce plain packaging together with advertising restrictions. In the exchanges, the Health Minister gave an explanation of his decision not to pursue plain packaging, citing the need to balance respect for trademark rights and the need to restrict tobacco advertising.

Trademark violations

If they weren't allowed that [use of trademarks], we would be in violation both of trademark and of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because the product is not deemed to be an illegal product. That's the balance. (emphasis added)

Source: Health Minister David Dingwall, Evidence, House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, 6 December 1996 - excerpt.

Illicit trade in Canada

The magnitude of the illegal tobacco issue in Canada has reached such a high level that it has become a fundamental social, health and law enforcement problem. It is now clear that there is significant involvement of organized crime in the manufacture and distribution of illegal tobacco products. Easy access to these products at very low prices is destroying the effectiveness of Canada’s health driven tobacco policies.

Read more on illicit trade

Countries that have considered plain packaging

Australia

Canada

United Kingdom

ISSUES WITH PLAIN PACKAGING

RETAILERS & CONSUMERS

What will plain packaging mean for them?

Confusion and inconvenience
Security problems
Loss of revenue to illicit trade

IN THE NEWS

The controversy surrounding plain packaging has generated significant media coverage.

DOCUMENTS & STUDIES

Government proposals, responses to those proposals and expert opinions on plain packaging.

Philip Morris International Management S.A. (PMIMSA) is opposed to legislation mandating plain packaging of tobacco products. We support effective regulation of tobacco based on the principle of harm reduction but plain packaging is an extreme measure unproven to have any effect in reducing smoking. We believe that adult smokers should be able to see, identify and select the brands they prefer.

We have developed this website in order to provide information on the issues surrounding plain packaging and to describe its likely effects on retailers, manufacturers, governments and consumers.