Cigarettes (Warning Notices) (Hansard, 24 June 1971)

§ Sir K. Joseph

Yes; a copy of the Code is reproduced below. The Industry have readily agreed to meet with me regularly to review the working of the Agreement and the Code.

LABELLING OF CIGARETTE PACKS AND RELATED ADVERTISEMENTS (LABELLING CODE)

Preface

The cigarette manufacturers represented on the Tobacco Advisory Committee have, at the request of the Secretary of State for Social Services, agreed that all packets of cigarettes produced by them for the United Kingdom Trade should carry a Government health warning. The cigarette manufacturers have also agreed that cigarette advertisements in newspapers and magazines and on posters published in the United Kingdom should carry a reference to the Government warning that appears on the pack.

This agreement will be implemented in accordance with the principles and definitions set out in the following Code of Practice.

The manufacturers undertake themselves to ensure that the Code of Practice is observed in the spirit as well as the letter. In particular, since material provided by manufacturers for use on tobacconists' premises is not covered by the agreement, the manufacturers have made it clear that they will not introduce new material designed to turn a tobacconists' shop-window, or a retail sales point (e.g. in a cinema or supermarket), into what would in effect be a "warningless" poster.

Packets of cigarettes for sale overseas or duty-free are excluded from the provisions of the agreement as is advertising expressly concerned with the promotion of export and dutyfree sales.

341W

The agreement and the Code of Practice will be implemented progressively from July, 1971 onwards.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE LABELLING OF CIGARETTE PACKS AND RELATED ADVERTISEMENTS (LABELLING CODE).

HEALTH WARNINGS ON CIGARETTE PACKS

1. The warning will consist of the words: Warning by H.M. Government. Smoking can damage your health.

2. The warning must appear in legible typeface such as Modern or a similar type-face of comparable clarity. The warning must be printed in a colour already included in the design and which clearly contrasts with the background colour upon which it is printed. The warning may be either printed on the pack or on a label securely attached to the pack.

3. The warning must appear on both sides of the packet unless it is framed in which case it may be printed on one side only.

4. The panels on which the warning appears must be entirely free from other copy except that the contents number, and in special cases (see paragraph 6 below) either the brand name or the manufacturer's name, may appear once provided it is clearly separated from the warning.

5. The normal standard for size of print of the warning will be as follows:

(a) on packs for 10 or more cigarettes

WARNING—In Bold Capitals 9 pt.
by H.M. Government—in Medium 8 pt. upper and lower case.
SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH—in Medium 9 pt. Capitals.

(b) on packs for 5 or less cigarettes

WARNING—In Bold Capitals 7 pt.
by H.M. Government—in Medium 6 pt. upper and lower case.
SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH—In Medium 7 pt. Capitals.

6. It is recognised that some registered designs and some types of packaging are such that minor variations from the above requirements may be necessary. Nevertheless, the manufacturers will ensure that the spirit of this Code is adhered to in every instance.

WARNING NOTICE IN CIGARETTE ADVERTISEMENTS

All Press and Poster advertisements must incorporate a warning notice.

A. PRESS ADVERTISING

Definition:

Newspapers, magazines, supplements and periodicals printed or published in the U.K., excluding those whose circulation is more than 80 per cent. overseas, those published for airline or shipping line passengers, and for the tobacco trade.

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Wording of Notice: (a) As soon as a significant proportion of packs of the brand being advertised carry a warning notice, the wording in advertisements will be: Packets carry a Government health warning". (b) When all packs of the brand being advertised carry a warning notice, the wording in advertisements will be:— Every packet carries a Government health warning".

Position of Notice:

The notice must occupy an area across the base of the advertisement.

Area of Notice:

(i) The warning notice must be separated from the remainder of the advertisement by a dividing line delineating the "warning area".
(ii) The size of the "warning area" must be as follows:

Size of advertisement	Percentage of total area to be devoted to warning area
11" X 3 columns larger	6
From 11 "X 3 columns down to 8" × 2 columns	8
Below 8" X 2 columns	10

Size and Style of Lettering:

(i) The warning notice must be centred in the "warning area" and appear in Times New Roman capitals, or a similar typeface of comparable clarity, of a size commensurate with the size of the "warning area".
(ii) The size of the lettering employed should be pro rata to the following examples:

Whole Page broadsheet newspaper—24pt.

Half Page broadsheet newspaper—24 pt.

Whole Page tabloid newspapers—20 pt.

Half Page tabloid newspapers—20 pt.

Whole Page Magazine—18 pt.

11"X 3 columns—12 pt.

8"X 2 columns—11 pt.

Clarity:

The warning must be printed in a colour clearly contrasting with the background colour upon which it is printed. Nothing other than the warning notice, may appear in the "warning area".

B. POSTER ADVERTISING

Category (a) Definition:

Printed advertisements temporarily affixed to a permanent or semi-permanent advertising site and displayed in any of the following ways:

(i) on hoardings.
(ii) on gable ends or walls.
(iii) on sites on station or Underground platforms, in booking halls and on the 343 walls of Underground passages, lifts and escalators.
(iv) on panels inside or outside public transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains, railway and Underground carriages.

Wording of Notice:

(a) As soon as a significant proportion of packs of the brand being advertised carry a warning notice, the wording in advertisements will be:

"Packets carry a Government health warning".

(b) When all packs of the brand being advertised carry a warning notice, the wording in advertisements will be:

"Every packet carries a Government health warning".

Position of Notice:

The notice will normally occupy an area across the base of the poster. In the case of certain advertisements (e.g. bus sides) the notice may be enclosed in a "box" equivalent to 6 per cent. of the total area of the advertisement.

Area of Notice:

(i) The warning notice must be separated from the remainder of the poster by a dividing line delineating the "warning area".
(ii) Six per cent. of the total area of the poster will be devoted to the "warning area".

Size and Style of Lettering:

(i) The warning notice must be centred in the "warning area" and appear in Times New Roman capitals, or a similar typeface of comparable clarity, of a size commensurate with the size of the "warning area".
(ii) The size of the lettering employed should be pro rata to the following examples:

48-sheet	2½" high
32-sheet	1⅞" high
16-sheet	1⅜" high
4-sheet	¾" high

Clarity:

The warning must be printed in a colour clearly contrasting with the background colour upon which it is printed. Nothing, other than the warning notice, may appear in the "warning area".

Category (b). Definition:

Permanent outdoor and indoor signs displayed on sites other than the premises occupied by retailers, wholesalers or manufacturers of tobacco products.

Warning notices will be incorporated:

(a) on new signs installed.
(b) on renewal of existing signs, and
(c) on all signs by 31st December, 1972.

Form of Notice:

In respect of wording, position, area, size and style of lettering and clarity, the notice 344W must be consistent with that specified for Category (a).

FOOTNOTES:

1. Duty Free areas—Posters, including signs, in Duty-free areas at shipping ports and at airports shall not be required to include the warning notice.

2. Company advertising—Advertisements on behalf of a company, as distinct from its brands of cigarette, shall not be required to publish the warning notice.

Exceptions:

The use in isolation of company names closely associated with that company's brands shall be deemed to be an advertisement for those brands and as such must comply with the articles of this Code.

June, 1971.