Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 September 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 8 September 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the future use of the terms light and mild on cigarette packets. - Inc ref to Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002.

Answer: Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future use of the terms light and mild on cigarette packets. [127737] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government recognise that certain terms can be used to suggest that one tobacco product is less harmful than another. We are therefore committed to banning the use of "misleading descriptors." The Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002 prohibit the supply of tobacco products, "the packaging of which carries any name, brand name, text, trademark or pictorial or any other representation or sign which suggests that that tobacco product is less harmful to health than other tobacco products." The supply of such cigarette packets must cease as of 30 September 2003. The Government would expect the prohibition to include terms such as "light" and "mild".

Secondary information