Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson.
SINN Féin MEP Martina Anderson has welcomed the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products to reduce rates of smoking.
Ms Anderson said: “The introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes and tobacco products is another welcome step towards helping protect people from the dangers of smoking.
“I played a key role in driving the Tobacco Products Directive which brought about this change through the European Parliament.
“This will mean all new tobacco packets will be dark green instead of the previous individual brand colours and will feature graphic images of the deadly impact of smoking.
“Research has shown that young people between the ages of 11 and 16 are more susceptible to tobacco advertising than any other age group and this latest restriction will remove one of the last remaining advertising methods.
“Hopefully this will lead to fewer young people taking up smoking, a habit which kills 50 per cent of tobacco users.”
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