OTTAWA — Health Minister Jane Philpott says the federal government plans to consult Canadians about proposed measures to require plain packaging for tobacco products.
The measures include requiring a standardized box size and prohibiting colours, logos and graphics on tobacco packaging.
The plan is strongly opposed by the industry and is likely another fierce legal battle between Ottawa and Big Tobacco.
Court challenges against similar rules have already been unsuccessful in a number of other countries, including Australia.
Plain packaging has also been embraced in France, the United Kingdom and Ireland, while formal consideration is also underway in Norway, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand, Singapore, Belgium and South Africa.
The Canadian Cancer Society says smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Canada, including about 30 per cent of all cancer deaths.
