Table 1

A summary of existing UK tobacco control policies for regulation of tobacco products and point-of-sale practices for ST and cigarette products

ComponentStatutory requirements for all tobacco products
Tobacco products1. Product notification

  • All tobacco products available for sale to the UK domestic market should be notified (TRPR, part 4 and part 5).

2. Contents and limits

  • Contents: no vitamins, colourings or prohibited additives.

ST productsCigarettes

  • No additional specifications for content or limits specified.

  • Contents: restriction on use of characterising flavours.

  • Limits: specified maximum emission levels (10 mg of tar, 1 mg of nicotine and 10 mg of CO per cigarette).

3. Product packagingPackaging features prohibited on all tobacco products

  • Information about tar, nicotine or CO content.

  • Discounts, price reductions or other offers.

  • Indicating less harm than other products.

  • Indicating vitalising, energising, healing, rejuvenating, natural or organic properties.

  • Environmental benefit.

  • Indication of taste, smell or flavours.

  • Appearance of food or cosmetic product.

4. Health warningsGeneral health warning requirements for all tobacco products

  • In English.

  • Fully visible.

  • Permanent.

  • Irremovably printed.

  • Printed on the pack.

  • Surrounded by a black border of width 1 mm inside the area reserved for it.

ST productsCigarettes

  • Appear on front and back surface.

  • Cover 30% of the surface area on each side.

  • Black (Helvetica) font with white background.

  • Placed in the centre of the area.

  • Parallel to the main text.

  • Standardised packaging requirements (shape, number of cigarettes, pack colour, pack material, pack texture, duty marks).

  • Combined health warnings covering 65% of the surface area.

  • General warnings and information messages on tobacco products for smoking, covering 50% of the surface area.

POS practices5. Tobacco advertising and promotion

  • Tobacco advertisements: only inside or outside premises of a specialist tobacconist

  • Display of products at POS: illegal for any business selling tobacco products to display products at point of sale. Products can only temporarily be displayed if:

    • Requested by customers over 18.

    • Incidental displays.

    • Specified circumstances by tobacconists.

    • Request by enforcement officer.

  • Display of prices at POS: restricted display of price lists

    • Size: A3 poster style lists for permanent display.

    • List with product pictures, for those who request information.

    • Price labels on covered shelf or front of storage unit.

6. Sales to minors

  • No sale of cigarettes or tobacco products to individuals under 18 years.

  • Regulations listed are common to ST and cigarettes unless otherwise specified by use of split boxes.

  • CO, carbon monoxide; POS, point of sale; ST, smokeless tobacco; TRPR, Tobacco and Related Products Regulations.