Standard tobacco packaging has economic and health benefits, says Public Health England

Introducing standardised packaging for tobacco products in England could save the public around £500m (€630m; $842m) a year and bring major health benefits, Public Health England has claimed.

The agency has published its official response1 to a government consultation2 on regulations governing the introduction of standardised packaging, which closed on 7 August. The agency noted growing evidence of a “substantial and irrefutable case” to argue for standardised packaging as a way of reducing the numbers of smokers or encouraging them to cut down.

In its response the agency said that it wanted to see long term reductions in youth smoking and for the country to build on the success it had already …