College of GPs welcomes plain packaging of tobacco products

Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 4:49 pm
Press Release: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

College of GPs welcomes plain packaging of tobacco products

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcomes the Government’s decision to bring in legislation to put tobacco products into plain packaging.

The College’s President, Dr Tim Malloy, says, ‘Our members are serious about helping reduce smoking rates. We are delighted the Government has decided to follow the lead set by the Australian Government on plain packaging of tobacco products.

‘There are strong grounds for believing that current packaging glamourises smoking and that tobacco products packaged in a standardised colour, typeface and form will improve the effectiveness of health warnings, reduce misconceptions about relative harmfulness of various brands and reduce the overall appeal of smoking.

‘General practitioners will continue working with others in the health sector towards a smokefree New Zealand.’

ENDS

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