The UK has implemented a new regulation directing the sale of cigarettes in standardised green packets with graphic health warnings.

The new regulation, known as Tobacco Products Directive (TPD2), is aimed at deterring young people from taking up smoking and reducing the number of smokers overall.

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According to the rule, all packs must include a minimum of 20 cigarettes to offer enough space of 65% in the front and back of the packs for printing health warnings.

Brand names will be allowed to be printed in a standard size, font and colour.

The new rule will be applied to all European Union (EU) nations selling tobacco products, reported Sky News.

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"Getting rid of glitzy heavily branded tobacco packs is the latest in a long line of achievements by the UK, which is a global leader in tobacco control."

In addition, TPD2 has directed the manufacturers to produce hand-rolled tobacco packaging in the same green colour.

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Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity chief executive Deborah Arnott said: “Getting rid of glitzy heavily branded tobacco packs is the latest in a long line of achievements by the UK, which is a global leader in tobacco control.

“We now have among the fastest declining smoking rates in the world thanks to decades of sound policy, but smoking rates among the poorest and most disadvantaged remain high.”

The directive will also affect the front and back sides of e-cigarette packaging, which must leave 30% of its available space for health warnings.

With the implementation of TPD2, the EU Commission expects to see a 2% drop in cigarette consumption over the next five years.