Plain and Simple Truth: Standardized Packaging Leaves No Room for Marketing

OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - May 31, 2016) - The Heart and Stroke Foundation applauds the Canadian government's announcement on World No Tobacco Day to begin consultations on plain and standardized tobacco packaging.

"The tobacco industry knows the value of its packages. It uses them like mini billboards to effectively market their products -- especially to our youth," says David Sculthorpe, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "The government should mandate plain and standardized packaging and products to eliminate any attraction to these lethal products."

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is proposing regulations that would remove and prohibit all marketing features on both the packages and the products including colours, textures, logos, names and fancy papers. These marketing strategies entice new users, create brand loyalty and discourage smokers trying to quit.

Such regulations would also ensure consistency. All brands would look the same and include the same messages around the harms of tobacco use.

Canada has numerous efforts in place to limit tobacco marketing including ad restrictions and public event sponsorship. Australia, UK, Ireland and France have already implemented or adopted varying types of plain packaging regulations.

"Canada was a world leader in tobacco control and it is time for us to step back up and implement bold and comprehensive regulations," says Sculthorpe. "We urge the government to move quickly and decisively."

The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen. heartandstroke.ca

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