Every retailer of Tobacco Products knows that they are required to keep the product out of sight of the public, but you may need to reassess whether your store is in full compliance with the legislation (Public Health Tobacco Act 2002 as amended)
The following products CANNOT be displayed
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Roll your own tobacco
- Pipe tobacco
- Snuff
- Cigarette papers
- Filters
- Tubes
The Environmental Health Officers can visit your store at any time and if they find any of the above products on open display (visible to the public) they can initiate a prosecution. Even if they warn you, that warning can be used in evidence at a later stage to show that you had previous “form” of non-compliance.
THIS IS IMPORTANT – DO NOT LEAVE UNWANTED PACKS IN THE GANTRY – return them to their slot in the machine.
Cigarette Cartons
We note the arrival of a number of ‘fully dressed’ cartons of 20’s from JTI, rather than the normal nude or cellowrap covering. This forms part of a retailer promotion. DO NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to sell the product as a fully dressed item as this would be expressly forbidden under plain pack legislation and you, the retailer (not the manufacturers or distributors) are legally responsible. There is a long-standing tradition in some households to buy the smoker in the family a carton of cigarettes or cigars/pipe tobacco etc, be advised – you break the law if you sell it with a tobacco company wrapping on it.
Back to news