WHO advocates plain packaging as World No Tobacco Day is observed

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners mark the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on May 31 every year, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

This year, the World No Tobacco Day focuses on the call for countries to get ready for plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products.

According to WHO, plain packaging is an important demand reduction measure that reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings.

Plain packaging of tobacco products refers to measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style.

“Strip back the glamour and glossy packaging that contain tobacco products, and what is left? A product that kills almost 6 million people every year. Tobacco packaging is a form of advertising and promotion that often misleads consumers and serves to hide the deadly reality of tobacco use,” says Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

Caleb Ojewale