Cigarette packs bearing the new standardised packaging are now available in some Irish retail outlets, the Department of Health has confirmed.

From next September, all tobacco products will have to be sold in plain or standardised packaging in accordance with the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015.

As part of this, these products will not be allowed to use colours, graphics and logos associated with their brands. Instead, they will all carry the same plain, neutral colour, as well as stark health warnings. The brand and variant name will be presented in a uniform typeface for all brands.

The aim of this is to make the packs look less attractive to consumers.

"Our aim is to decrease the appeal of tobacco products, to increase the effectiveness of health warnings and to reduce the chances of consumers being misled about the harmful effects of smoking. This packaging makes it plain that cigarettes are bad for your health," commented Junior Health Minister, Catherine Byrne.

Standardised packaging is one of the many measures contained in Tobacco Free Ireland, the report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group. Its aim is to make Ireland tobacco free by 2025 (less than 5% of the population smoking).