EU rules menthol cigarettes be BANNED by 2020 over fears they make it ‘easy’ to smoke
Research also shows menthol users suffer worse respiratory health than regular smokers
MENTHOL cigarettes are to be phased out over the next four years - in time for a total ban in 2020.
The new EU regulations - including measures starting tomorrow - cover menthol cigarettes and roll your own menthol tobacco.
They are being introduced following fears the cigarettes make it easier to smoke and could actually be worse for smokers.
One US study found menthol smokers were left with worse respiratory health than people who smoked regular cigarettes.
Historically, the minty tabs have been marketed towards ‘beginner’ smokers – something the new EU directive is also hoping to tackle.
The menthol crackdown is one of many being introduced to combat the dangers of smoking.
From tomorrow, all cigarette packets must contain at least 20 fags while other flavoured tobacco and cigarettes will be banned completely.
The minimum contents rule also applies to hand rolling tobacco packets, which must weigh a minimum of 30 grams.
New packaging laws are also coming into place, which will mean that all cigarette boxes must look similar.
They will have to be the same dullish green colour, with the same font, colour, size, case and must display larger health warnings.
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity Action on Smoking Health said: “The European Court of Justice decision is welcome if not surprising: the Directive is lawful and the UK is allowed to go further than the Directive in standardising tobacco packs .
"From May 20 all packs manufactured for sale in the UK will have to be plain, standardised in the same drab green colour with the product name on the pack in a standard font".
Other changes include introducing EU-wide tracking of tobacco products, and banning the use of "misleading" descriptions on packaging, such as “lite”, “natural” and “organic”.
While the new law states that all tobacco products manufactured for sale in the UK must comply with the new regulations from tomorrow, there will be a one year transitional period to allow retailers to sell off old stock.
This means that from May 21, 2017 onwards the banned products cannot be offered for sale.
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