Following the Council of State decision, the TAPDK announced they would abolish the “at least” part from the clause regulating the pictorial warning. The agency also announced that the date for implementation of the warning, which was originally Jan. 1, has been delayed until March 1.
Discussions over the TAPDK decision have now taken on a new form. Unsatisfied with the latest changes in the TAPDK regulation, tobacco producers are preparing to apply to the Council of State, citing a law which states that a warning about the effects of tobacco on health must cover “40 percent” of a package.
Commenting on the current developments, British American Tobacco (BAT) Corporate Affairs Manager Tuna Turagay said their company was following the developments closely but have not yete decided whether or not to lodge an appeal with the court. Noting that there are examples of the same application -- warning pictures on cigarette packages -- in other countries, Turagay said: “But tobacco companies should also have the right to include some information about their product on packages. There should be enough space for this.” The BAT official said that if no change transpires, they will in the end be required to abide by the decisions of the Council of State.
Officials from the TAPDK said the Council of State decision stipulated that warning labels can include pictures and drawings, adding that the only problem was seen in the size of these warnings.
