British Department of Health Publishes Tobacco Display Ban Guidance

The British Department of Health has released its guidance on how retailers should go about complying with the tobacco display ban in England. The new rules will apply for all stores larger than 280 square meters beginning April 6, 2012, and expand to all other shops on April 6, 2015.

The guidance was devised in collaboration with the Local Government Regulatory Support Unit, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the British Retail Consortium. “ACS has worked closely with government officials to make sure this guidance takes account of the practical difficulties retailers will experience, and ensure it will provide clarity to retailers on the requirements and their responsibilities under the new regulations,” said James Lowman, who heads ACS.

“While we welcome the guidance, it is disappointing this has taken so long to be published. The regulations will come in to force for large retailers next April, yet they are only now being given the detail of the requirements they face,” he said.
The tobacco display ban was announced in March 2011. ACS stated that there still remains a lack of clarity around compliance deadlines in Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland also intends to ban tobacco display, but that would be separate legislation.