Turkey has taken a major step in tobacco control by passing an amendment to adopt plain
packaging for all tobacco products effective as of 5 December 2018 according to the WHO Europe.
According to the amendment, tobacco products shall be marketed “in plain and standard packaging”
based on uniform design including brand typeface, font and size, pack colour, warning messages
and other mandatory texts, phrases and images. The brand name will be written only on one side of
the pack, covering no more than 5% of the side. No brand logo or symbol will be allowed in the new
designs. The boxes will be plain, unattractive and uniform, and no coating or foil stamping will be
allowed.
According to the Turkish authorities, the diseases attributable to tobacco use cause more than 100
000 deaths in the country yearly. With the adoption of the amendment, Turkey joins a handful of
countries who have implemented one of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(WHO FCTC) key recommendations.
“Turkey has been a leading country in tobacco control over the last decade, thanks to its sustained
political commitment,” commented Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Turkey. “The Parliament’s
vote to pass the amendment for the plain packaging of tobacco products is another important
milestone in Turkey’s efforts to fight the global epidemic of tobacco use.”
According to the Vice President of the Health, Family, Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey Dr Müşerref Pervin Tuba Durgut a cigarette pack is the most
basic communication and marketing tool for the tobacco industry.
“Introduction of comprehensive bans on cigarette advertisements and sponsorship significantly
reduces tobacco consumption rates and prevents the cigarette industry from reaching potential
users, particularly children and young people,” she emphasized to the Parliament.
Plain packaging reduces the appeal of tobacco products and helps eliminate misleading package
designs that may suggest that some products are less harmful than others. Overall, plain packaging
also increases the noticeability and effectiveness of health warnings on tobacco products.
The new rules will be applied to products produced in Turkey and those imported from abroad.
Regulations will come into force after July 5, 2019
