In Canada, all packages sold are now neutral

After more than three decades of struggle, Canadian Cancer Society Against the tobacco industry, all tobacco packages sold in the country are in plain packaging, as of February 7, 2020[1]. This situation, which is to be welcomed, marks a victory for Canadian public health policies over the devastating interests of the tobacco industry. Canada was in fact the first country to initiate legal studies and consultations on this measure in the 1990s. The issue was and remains essential: as the Canadian Cancer Society points out, the tobacco package itself is an extremely effective advertising showcase: the plain package, on which clearly visible health messages are affixed, thus helps to make smoking less attractive, particularly to younger generations. This decision is part of a general desire to stop the tobacco epidemic in Canada. As such, the government has committed to reducing the prevalence of smoking to less than 5% of the population by 2035. It is important to remember that smoking still causes considerable human damage in Canada today, where 45,000 people die from their consumption each year, including 30% from cancer. The tobacco industry is, however, engaged in an aggressive marketing strategy, as shown by its latest advertising campaign.[2] from the beginning of 2020: "hypocrisy kills", aimed at denouncing the supposed "disinformation" of public authorities on the issue of vaping, and calling for "acting according to facts and not fear". This accusation is all the less acceptable since the tobacco industry has theorized the use of lying as a founding principle of its economic functioning. ©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Andrea SEALE, The Star, “New plain cigarette packs, a landmark achievement for Canada”, February 19, 2020 https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/02/19/new-plain-cigarette-packs-a-landmark-achievement-for-canada.html [2] Isabelle Hachey, La presse, “Hypocrisy according to Imperial Tobacco” https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/202002/07/01-5260076-lhypocrisie-selon-imperial-tobacco.php | ©National Committee Against Smoking |