Minor amendments to the Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011 to remove the obligation on retailers to rotate the health warnings on tobacco products come into force tomorrow.
The amendment reinstates the position under the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 2004 which placed the onus on the manufacturer and the importer to rotate the graphic health warnings, relieving a red tape burden for small businesses.
This amendment reduces the unnecessary regulatory cost and administrative burden on retailers, including small businesses, when selling tobacco products, while ensuring that the policy objectives of the health warnings rotation policy are still met.
In December 2011, the Government made the Tobacco Information Standard, with the support of relevant State and Territory Ministers, which forms an important part of the Government's plain packaging reforms to target tobacco use and its harmful effects.
A copy of the amendments can be found on the ComLaw website.