The Public Health Law and Policies Team (LAW), in association with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat organized a Workshop on Plain (Standardized) Packaging from 10-12 December 2019.
Dr Daniel Kertesz, the WHO Representative to Thailand kickstarted the Workshop by congratulating Thailand for its tobacco plain packaging law, making it the first country in Asia to adopt plain packaging for tobacco products. He further stated that tobacco plain packaging was an important part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control as it reduced demand by making tobacco products less attractive and eliminating the pack as a source of advertising and promotion.
The objective of the Workshop was to bring interested countries from two WHO regions, South-East Asia and Western Pacific together to learn more about the experience of Thailand and Singapore on plain packaging. With the intention to help drive policy progress and make connections that could help countries move plain packaging and tobacco control forward.
During the Workshop, the participants were introduced to the touch and feel of plain packs from different countries, features and objectives of plain packaging, comparison of different approaches adopted by countries to plain packaging, key issues in policy design, the evidence base: pre-implementation and post-implementation, and legal challenges. The substantive technical sessions were combined with lively interactions and simulations around how the participants could implement plain packaging in their own countries.
The ‘First wave’ of developed countries are now being followed by a ‘Second wave’ of developing countries to implement plain packaging. We remain committed to provide necessary technical assistance to implement plain packaging and strengthen tobacco control in your country. Get in touch with us on LAWHPR@who.int.