Plain Packaging

Chair

Cynthia Callard, Executive Director, Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada

Presenters

Rob Cunningham, David Hammond, Melodie Tilson, Becky Freeman, Gar Mahood

Brief Description

Plain packaging of tobacco products was first proposed in Canada in 1986, and in Australia and New Zealand shortly thereafter. In Canada, it was the subject of intensive public, parliamentary and research scrutiny in 1994-1995, and was also under active consideration in Australia and New Zealand in that period. For a variety of reasons, these early reviews did not result in the implementation of plain packaging.

In the subsequent decade, despite research findings that this policy innovation would have public health benefit, it has received relatively little government, public or research attention. The purpose of this proposed working session is to bring together researchers, policy analysts and other interested Canadians to review existing research and other available knowledge that could inform decisions to implement plain packaging, to identify areas where future research or other activities are required, and to suggest appropriate actions that can be taken by the research, community and government sectors.

This one day workshop will consolidate recent research from legal, social science and international trade disciplines in Canada, Australia and elsewhere and will integrate this information into a recommended plan of action for research funders, communities, regulators, and policy makers in Canada and elsewhere. It will identify key actions to be taken for government and community groups and key research questions to be addressed by researchers and research funders.

Expected Outcome

The main output of this workshop will be a consolidated plan of action with recommendations for tobacco control professionals working in government, universities, research institutions and community groups.These goals of this plan of action is to facilitate policy developments on cigarette package reform.

Potential Impact

Because the session will synthesize evidence, review contextual considerations and produce a document keyed to upcoming policy developments, it will accelerate and facilitate the development of plain packaging or other package reforms for cigarettes.

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