OSLO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian government said Friday that a new regulation on ad-free and standardized tobacco packaging would be implemented on July 1 in the hope this would prevent youth from taking up smoking or using snus.
"We know that young people are influenced by the appearance of tobacco packages. No one wants children and young people to start with tobacco. With advertising-free packages we will put an end to the marketing targeting the youngest among us," health minister Bent Hoie was quoted as saying in a statement.
According to the regulation, tobacco packages are to have dark green color and be the same shape, with standardized fonts. The manufacturer's logo, and design elements such as colors and symbols, are forbidden.
Detailed regulation rules will be determined before the summer and there will be exceptions for certain product groups such as cigars and pipe tobacco, the statement said.
Standardized tobacco packages have already been introduced countries such as Australia, Britain and France.
Moreover, e-cigarettes will also be banned from places where the smoking ban is applied, such as public transport and the workplace, from July 1.
The reason is that exposure to vapor from e-cigarettes could increase health risks for certain vulnerable groups. The ban will be supervised in the same way as the current smoking ban.
