Australia: Stricter tobacco law coming soon

Today, on June 6, it was reported by ABC News that if the legislation proposed by Health Minister Mark Butler is passed, Australia will face stricter tobacco regulations in the next two years.

The proposed legislation requires standardized sizes for tobacco packaging and products, standardized designs for filters, health warnings on each cigarette, public health information on loose and cigarette packaging, a ban on flavors and additives (such as menthol), and restrictions on certain names used on packaging.

"Some names are intended to mislead users, [implying] that the cigarettes they are using are beneficial to them in some way, such as smooth or fresh burst names," Butler said. "These things are a cynical marketing strategy designed to ensnare new smokers into this public health threat and will be banned in this legislation."

"The deadline for the legislation drafted by former Minister Nicola Roxon is April 1, 2024," Butler said. "Therefore, if we do not pass alternative legislation, the current set of regulations regarding plain packaging, graphic warnings, etc., will expire on April 1, so we intend to pass this legislation before April 2024."