Historical archive

Press invitation:

News about plain packaging on World No Tobacco Day

Historical archive

Published under: Solberg's Government

Publisher: Ministry of Health and Care Services

The theme for World No Tobacco Day is "Get ready for plain packaging". The World Health Organization (WHO), the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Norwegian Cancer Society will mark the occasion on Tuesday 31 May. Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie will present the Norwegian government's work on plain packaging, and WHO will present a new report on plain packaging.

WHO is calling on its Member States to get ready for plain packaging. Australia, United Kingdom, France and Ireland have passed laws to implement plain packaging, and other countries are considering the same. The tobacco industry has filed suits against several countries to stop plain packaging, but without success, most recently in the UK.

On World No Tobacco Day, news and new research will be presented:

  • The Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie will present the Norwegian government's work on plain packaging. 
  • WHO will present a new report on plan packaging.
  • Kylie Lindorff, the Cancer Council in Australia, will present new research that shows that plain packaging works. Fewer young people are starting to smoke cigarettes. 
  • Sarah Gillett, The British ambassador to Norway, will brief about the UK's experiences with plain packaging.
  • Secretary General of the Norwegian Cancer Society, Anne Lise Ryel: Towards a tobacco free society.

Read full program attached

After the program, there will be a separate press briefing with The Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie, Dr Douglass Betcher and Dr Benn McGrady, WHO, Kylie Lindorff, the Cancer Council in Australia and Secretary General Anne Lise Ryel, the Norwegian Cancer Society. 

The event will be streamed on the Ministry of Health and Care Services web page

Place: Norwegian Cancer Society, Kongens gate 6, Oslo

Time: Tuesday, 31 of May, 09:00-11.00.