Purpose of the booklet
This booklet can be used as a guide to help you identify some of the key plain packaging requirements.The illustrations in this booklet are a visual guide of what plain packaging and the new health warnings may look like for different tobacco products and packaging formats.
This booklet also contains a list of key points for suppliers, which may assist you to identify whether tobacco products you buy, sell, offer for sale or otherwise supply meet the plain packaging requirements.
From 1 December 2012, all tobacco products sold, offered for sale or otherwise supplied in Australia must be in plain packaging and be labelled with the new and expanded health warnings.
This booklet has been provided by the Australian Government as a guide only.
Contents
CigaretteCigar
Cigarette Pack
Cigarette Carton
Loose Leaf Tobacco Pouch
Cigar Tube
Cigar Box
Small Cigar Tin
Loose Leaf Tobacco Tin
Key Points for Retailers and Other Suppliers of Tobacco Products
More Information
Copyright notice
Disclaimer
Cigarette
Cigar
Note:
If a plain packaged cigar band covers a non-compliant band or bands:
If a plain packaged cigar band covers a non-compliant band or bands:
- it must completely cover the non-compliant band(s), and
- it must be fastened firmly to, and not easily removable from, the non-compliant band(s)
Cigarette pack – front
Cigarette pack – back
Cigarette carton – front
Cigarette carton – back
Loose leaf tobacco pouch – front
Loose leaf tobacco pouch – back
Cigar tube – front
Cigar tube – back
Cigar box – front
Cigar box – back
Small cigar tin – front
Small cigar tin – back
Loose leaf tobacco tin – front
Loose leaf tobacco tin – back
Key points for retailers and other suppliers of tobacco productsPhysical requirements
Colour requirements
Marking requirements
Plastic wrapper requirements
Cigarette packs only – additional requirements
Cigarette cartons only – additional requirements
Non-cigarette tobacco product packaging only – additional requirements
Cigar tube only– additional requirements
Cigarette
Cigar
All retail packaging
Physical requirements:
- Packaging size is larger than the minimum dimensions (note: different dimensions apply to cigarette packs and cigar tubes – see below)
- Packaging is free from embellishments of any sort
Colour requirements:
- Outer surfaces of packaging are Pantone 448C – a drab dark brown (except for the health warnings and other permitted markings on the packaging)
- Inner surfaces of packaging are white or the colour of the packaging material in its natural state (note: different requirements apply to cigarette packs and cartons – see below)
Marking requirements:
- Packaging is free from any markings other than the permitted markings. Permitted markings include:
- Brand and variant name
- Fire risk statements
- Statements of measurement (e.g. the pack size or volume)
- Name and address
- Country of origin
- Origin marks (alphanumeric codes and covert marks)
- A bar code
- A consumer contact telephone number
- Calibration marks
- Permitted markings on the packaging meet the specifications on content and number of markings,colour, font, size and position.
Plastic wrapper requirements:
- Wrapper is transparent and not coloured, and without embellishments
- Wrapper only displays permitted markings that meet the specifications on number of markings, colour, font, size and position
- Any tear strip on the wrapper meets the requirements as to colour, size and position
Cigarette packs only – additional requirements
Additional physical requirements:
- Pack is made of rigid cardboard, with the only opening being a flip top lid hinged at the back
- Pack is rectangular
- Pack size falls within the minimum and maximum size restrictions
- If the lining of the pack is embossed, the embossing meets the requirements
Additional colour requirements:
- Inner surfaces of pack are white
- Lining of pack is silver coloured foil with a white paper backing
Inserts and onserts:
- The pack does not have anything inside it, other than the cigarettes (inserts)
- The pack does not have anything attached to it (onserts)
Cigarette cartons only – additional requirements
Additional physical requirements:
- Carton is made of rigid cardboard
- Carton is rectangular
Additional colour requirements:
- Inner surfaces of carton are white
Inserts and onserts:
- The carton does not have anything inside it, other than the packs of cigarettes (inserts)
- The carton does not have anything attached to it (onserts)
Non-cigarette tobacco product packaging only – additional requirements
Inserts and onserts:
- The packaging does not have anything attached to it (onserts)
- If there are any things inside the packaging, other than the tobacco products or compliant tobacco product retail packaging, (inserts), they are:
- used to avoid damage to the product during transportation or storage; and
- either white or the colour of the packaging material in its natural state
- If there are any tabs for resealing primary packaging, they are either black, transparent and not coloured, or Pantone 448C.
Cigar tube only– additional requirements
Additional physical requirements:
- Cigar tube is cylindrical and rigid (with or without tapered/rounded ends)
- Diameter of the cigar tube is at least 15 mm
Cigarette
Colour requirements:
- Cigarette paper is completely white, or white with an imitation cork tip
- Filter (actual filter, not paper covering filter) of the cigarette is white
Marking requirements:
- Cigarette is free from any markings, except an optional black alphanumeric code in the required font, size, and position
Cigar
Cigar band colour requirements:
- Cigar band is Pantone 448C – a drab dark brown (except for the permitted markings on the band)
Cigar band marking requirements:
- Only markings on the band are the brand and variant name, country of origin, an alphanumeric code and covert marks
- Permitted markings on the band meet the specifications on number, colour, font, size and position
Cigar band physical requirements:
- No more than one cigar band is visible on the cigar
- If a plain packaged cigar band covers a non-compliant band or bands:
- it completely covers the non-compliant band(s), and
- it is fastened firmly to, and not easily removable from, the non-compliant band(s)
For the complete plain packaging and new health warning requirements, you must refer to the legislation.
More information
You should seek your own independent advice if you are unsure of your obligations under the plain packaging or new health warnings legislation, or are having difficulty understanding the requirements.Copyright notice
The content in this publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth.Disclaimer
This booklet does not illustrate or itemise all of the plain packaging and new health warning requirements. The requirements not itemised or displayed in this booklet are not any less important or significant than those that are displayed or itemised.All manufacturers, packagers and suppliers of tobacco products should ensure they understand all of the requirements in the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011, the Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011 and the Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011.
Nothing in this booklet should be taken in any way to replace the provisions of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011, the Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011 or the Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011.
For the complete plain packaging and new health warning requirements, refer to the legislation.
Links are below:
Tobacco plain packaging:
Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011
New tobacco health warnings:
Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011D0832 July 2012
This document is to be used as a guide only and should not be relied upon as a source of legal advice. It is not a complete summary of the plain packaging and new health warning requirements. You should obtain your own professional and legal advice in relation to implementation of the plain packaging and health warning requirements. All information in this publication is correct as at July 2012.