Neutral Package Act

What is the law on neutral cigarette packages?

After four years of conflict between the government and the manufacturers and tobacconists, the Constitutional Council has given the green light for the launch of neutral cigarette packs. They will be mandatory and will arrive at tobacconists from 20 May 2016.

Neutral cigarette packages aim to limit the marketing visual impact of cigarette packages by removing any distinctive signs. No more logos, brand images or fancy colours! The idea is to market plain coloured packs of the same size and shape, with a standard typography for brand names. The packaging will therefore be ordinary, and the brand will no longer have the opportunity to stand out from its competitors. Indications will be added such as the quantity of tobacco as well as government-imposed information such as health information and tax markings.

For a very long time, cigarette packages have been manufactured by manufacturers to promote tobacco brands. Until then, the packet was used to attract consumers and to convey the brand image of tobacco companies.

Let's take the example of slim cigarettes. The packs are thin, sober and elegant. They have been clearly designed and studied to seduce a female clientele.

The colour of the package, more or less dark, or the terms "light" or "light" also influence the consumer's choice. The smoker has the impression that the cigarette he or she smokes is less harmful to health, that it contains less tar. This is not necessarily the case.

In other words, neutral packages will avoid any temptation on the part of the consumer and any manipulation on the part of manufacturers.

What types of cigarette packages are affected?

Cigarette packets, cartons of cigarette packets and roll-your-own tobacco packaging are affected by this law.

Why the Neutral Packet Law?

According to the WHO, "Neutral packaging :

• reduces the demand for tobacco
• influences smokers in their decision to quit.
• reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products
• restricts the attractiveness of tobacco products
• restricts the use of tobacco product packaging as a means of advertising or promoting tobacco products; and
• limits misleading packaging and labelling
• reinforces the effectiveness of health warnings".

The objective of this law is to reduce the attractiveness of cigarette packages as part of a public health policy to combat smoking. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC ) Article 11 directive, adopted in 2008, states that the adoption of the neutral package "could give more prominence and effectiveness to health messages and warnings, preventing the presentation of the package from distracting consumers' attention and countering the design techniques used by the tobacco industry to try to make people believe that some products are less harmful than others".

Generic packages provide greater readability and visibility to health messages and enhance their impact. Several studies conducted in Australia, where plain cigarette packages are already in place, have shown that health messages have a significant impact on the consumer and that greater visibility would increase the credibility of the message. In contrast, marketed packages distract smokers from prevention messages.

Will it have an impact on the price of a pack of cigarettes?

The implementation of this neutral package will obviously have a financial impact for manufacturers who do not want to make any statement on the cost of these changes for the time being. They are obviously forced to review their manufacturing process in order to completely redesign the packaging of cigarette packets.

What we are interested in is whether this adaptation in the manufacturing process will have an impact on the selling price of cigarette packages. Some manufacturers claim that the cost of producing these new cigarette packages will not be reflected in the price of the package. Since this measure has been under discussion for several years, manufacturers have had time to prepare for these new costs. The other manufacturers do not wish to make a decision at this time.

How can you make your cigarette packages more attractive?

The neutral package will clearly be more sober and the images more shocking.

Pour le fumeur désireux de rendre son paquet de cigarettes plus cool et sexy, il existe des étuis spéciaux pour paquet de cigarettes. Les caches paquet de cigarettes sont conçus pour habiller, ranger et ne pas abîmer votre paquet. Simple d’utilisation, il suffit juste de glisser votre paquet dans l’étui.

Cigarette cases can be made of plastic, leather or metal. Plain or coloured, they suit all styles and tastes. Some even have a space for a lighter.

Discover our range of cigarette packet cases