Abstract
Objective: Plain packaging is one of the crucial strategies in reduction of tobacco consumption. Turkey, while implementing plain packaging in the begining of 2020, chose not to standardize pack sizes, unlike all other countries with similar legislations. This study was carried out, as a part of tobacco industry monitoring, to investigate 1)the various applications on unstandardized plain packs 2) the level of compliance with legislation in terms of labeling and packaging features of cigarette packs on the market in Turkey.
Methods: Each sample has been evaluated by four independent observers in terms of compliance with 126 criterions by seeing 105 different sub-branded packages from 22 brands of 4 different tobacco companies.
Findings: 4 brands which are known to be used in food, cosmetics, textiles or accessories are against the Regulation. The 12 phrases selected as sub-brands are evaluated as codes that provide communication with consumers and potential consumers, and that colors used in sub-brands may describe sweeteners, additives and flavors. Expressions such as "slender", "slim", "long" are thought to contain advertising elements that evoke a lifestyle. 4 packs did not meet the technical criteria of standard pictorial health warnings. Health warnings of different tobacco companies were in different shades and colors, also not fully visible due to the tax label stuck . Without exception, all packs have a different tobacco smell when their gelatin was opened.
Conclusion: Compliance with Turkish plain packaging legislation was low. Plain packs with various sizes (unstandardized) created confusion and facilitated non-compliance.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, OA2584.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021