The Government is seeking feedback on the draft regulations for the Tobacco Products and Packaging Bill that will be finalised into law after the primary legislation has passed.

The draft regulations are set out in four parts:

• Part 1 sets out general requirements that will apply to all tobacco products (subpart 1) and all tobacco packages (subpart 2) respectively. 
• Part 2 contains provisions that apply only to cigarettes, cigarette packs and cigarette cartons. 
• Part 3 relates to loose tobacco packaging. 
• Part 4 covers packaging for cigars.

The regulations will set out the detailed requirements for tobacco product design, appearance, packaging and labelling, improved graphic warnings, and standardised pack quantities.

The main features are:

• standardising the size and appearance of tobacco products and packages to make them less appealing, and to make the graphic warnings on the packs larger and more effective
• allowing a brand name and certain other manufacturer information to be printed on the pack, but with tight controls (eg, over the typeface, font size, colour and position)
• prohibiting the use of tobacco company branding imagery and all other marketing devices on tobacco product packaging and on tobacco products themselves.

Read or download: Standardised Tobacco Products and Packaging Draft Regulations Consultation Document

Feedback due: Please send feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz by 13 July 2016