The new packaging standard is to discourage tobacco consumption and promote healthy living. Credit: The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) for Singapore will introduce standardised packaging and enlarged graphic health warnings for all tobacco products sold across the country.

Dubbed the SP Proposal, the new packaging standard is to discourage tobacco consumption and promote healthy living. It will apply to products such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, beedies, ang hoon, and other roll-your-own tobacco items.

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As part of the SP Proposal, the government wants companies to remove all logos, colours, brand images and promotional information on the packaging of tobacco products. This excludes brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style.

It also proposes to increase the minimum size of the mandatory graphic health warnings from 50% to 75% of all specified tobacco product packaging surfaces.

In a statement, the ministry said: “MOH has, in consultation with independent experts, engaged in an extensive process of reviewing and evaluating the available international and local studies, research and evidence relating to the SP Proposal.

“The government expects that it will reduce the prevalence of smoking in the country and meet its obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.”

“These include over 200 primary studies, reviews and materials relating to standardised packaging and enlarged graphic health warnings originating from a wide range of sources and countries, and across multiple disciplines.

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“As part of this process, MOH has also received feedback and submissions received from three public consultations.”

Once introduced, MOH will operate the SP Proposal alongside other tobacco control measures, including education, taxation, smoking cessation programmes, as well as bans on tobacco advertising and point-of-sale displays. It will also educate users of the minimum legal age for tobacco.

The government expects that it will reduce the prevalence of smoking in the country and meet its obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.