In Russia, the design of packs of cigarettes will change

In Russia, they stopped releasing packs of cigarettes with a familiar design. On November 15, the transition period for the introduction of the technical regulations of the Customs Union for tobacco products, which entered into force on May 15, 2016, expired.

Now manufacturers should follow the new rules for packaging tobacco products, reports TASS. Images on the packs of cigarettes will be applied on both sides of the package: on the front side - at the top of the pack, and on the back the picture can be both above and below. The size of the images should occupy at least 50% of the area of ​​the pack.

The picture will depict human organs damaged by diseases provoked by smoking, and given explanations of what is being discussed. In addition, in packages of cigarettes it is forbidden to place various kinds of inserts, which usually are advertising.

According to the new rules, cigarettes with the names "Lights", "Extra" and "Ultra" will now disappear now. “After all, such a marking can create the impression that“ light ”cigarettes are less harmful, but this is not true,” Viktor Zykov, a member of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of Health of Russia, explained to Rossiyskaya Gazeta .

In order not to mislead consumers, it is now forbidden to indicate the amount of nicotine, resins, monoxide carbon on packages of tobacco products, because such information can create the illusion that the lower the content of these substances, the more harmless the goods. On the side of the pack will be written that this harmful product contains systemic poisons.

The innovations also include the ban on applying pictures or inscriptions that associate tobacco products with food, especially with useful. The exception is made only for menthol.

Currently, the Ministry of Health is developing an anti-tobacco concept for 2017-2022, designed to reduce the number of smoking people in the country to 25%. The agency plans to increase excise taxes on cigarettes and wakes. It is also supposed to standardize cigarette packaging. The ministry intends to prohibit the use of wipes in restaurants, and in ordinary cigarettes use additives "with the taste of food products".

On November 1, it became known that manufacturers of tobacco products turned to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, in the letter they disagreed on several points of the anti-tobacco concept. In particular, manufacturers opposed the disclosure of the composition of cigarettes and a ban on the use of food additives.

The next day, RBC sources in the social block of government reported that the concept was returned to the Ministry of Health for revision. According to sources, the concept was not approved by the Department of Social Development of the Government.