Volume 1
The tobacco industry and the health risks of smoking : second report / Health Committee.
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Health Committee
- Date:
- 2000
Licence: Open Government Licence
Credit: The tobacco industry and the health risks of smoking : second report / Health Committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.
48/92 page 46
![Regulatory Authority we propose below (paragraph 189). Such packaging would be of a standard colour with the brand name in a standard type face. Beyond this, the only other permitted information would be health warnings and consumer information about product contents. 113. Other promotional techniques, such as direct marketing, point of sale displays, brand stretching (the branding of non-tobacco products such as clothing with tobacco marques) have also received less attention than advertising. We believe that the proposed Tobacco Regulatory Authority should monitor these activities, check compliance with current controls and propose new ones whenever there is a danger that a particular activity will encourage consumption. Innovative promotional efforts are also a threat, especially on the internet, and will, we believe, require careful monitoring. 114. Most fundamental of all, every effort needs to be made by both the Government and the tobacco companies to limit the appeal of tobacco brands to young and new smokers. Asa start, we believe the Government should compile and publish information on those brands that have particular appeal amongst children. Such data could inform the operation of the proposed Tobacco Regulatory Authority, both in terms of its analysis of any ongoing marketing activity and its assessment of additives. Measures against environmental tobacco smoke 115. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the only legislation which acts to restrict the impact of environmental tobacco smoke. It requires employers to ensure, “so far as it is reasonably practicable”, the health, safety and welfare of their employees.'” In 1988 the Health and Safety Executive issued guidelines, most recently reviewed in 1992, telling employers what they should do to comply with health, safety and welfare law as regards passive smoking.” 116. The Government’s White Paper, Smoking Kills, states that it does “not think a universal ban on smoking in all public places is justified while we can make fast and substantial progress in partnership with industry.””°' Instead, the Government has agreed a Charter with bodies representing the hospitality trade, requiring the signatories to the Charter to recognise “that there should be increasing facilities for non-smokers and the availability of clean air”.”” Independent research funded by the industry will monitor progress against targets. The White Paper states that “Consumers can do a lot by simply asking for smoke-free areas to be provided as well as by voting with their feet”.7° 117. The White Paper also states that the Government is “not going to ban smoking at work. But the Health and Safety Commission is going to consult on a new Approved Code of Practice on smoking in the workplace. This will considerably toughen existing measures..... The Approved Code of Practice is guidance.....[Employers] may use alternative methods....in order to comply with the law”.?* On 29 July 1999 the Health and Safety Commission published a consultation document seeking views on further action to control passive smoking at work which included an option for an Approved Code of Practice to “clarify what steps employers should be taking to protect their employees from the unpleasant effects of tobacco smoke, and to protect the health of those employees who suffer from a medical condition that could be made worse by exposure to tobacco smoke, such as asthma”.”” The Department told us that that consultation was now complete, and that if the Health and Safety Commission introduced the Code of Practice it would have a profound effect since “most public places are somebody’s workplace”.”” We hope that the Code of Practice will be implemented in the House of Commons. 118. The Secretary of State told us that he was not in favour of introducing mandatory bans on smoking in public places. He felt that it was significant that voluntary agreements in place were with the hospitality sector, rather than the tobacco industry, and that it was in the commercial interests of 199 00 n pd: 201 Smoking Kills, p.66. 202 ibid., p.69. 203 ibid., p.70. 204 ibid., p.72. “- EN; Bios Baad](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32221083_0001_0048.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
